Purdue University North Central was recently recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its ongoing commitment to community engagement. The Foundation announced that 240 institutions received the 2015 Community Engagement Classification, an honor PNC earned in 2010 alongside 121 other institutions, bringing the total number of Community Engaged institutions to 361.
The Carnegie Foundation has offered this distinction since 2006 and is based on voluntary participation by institutions. The Carnegie Foundation honors institutions where teaching, learning and scholarship engage faculty, students and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration. Purdue North Central was recognized for addressing community-identified needs, deepening students’ civic and academic learning, enhancing community well-being, and enriching the institution.
“It is a great honor to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation. Purdue North Central continues to maintain a strong commitment to community involvement and service learning. Through the years it has become a way of life for us,” said PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin. “Most of our faculty, students and staff have at some point been involved in some way. Our activities range from individual volunteer events to class or group undertakings and campus-wide events. These activities help build a commitment to volunteerism and community service in our students that they will build on throughout their lives.”
PNC is among 15 Indiana institutions earning the Community Engagement Classification, they are: Anderson University; Ball State University; Butler University; Indiana State University; Indiana University Bloomington; Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne; Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; Marian University; Purdue University West Lafayette; Saint Mary's College; Taylor University; University of Indianapolis,; University of Notre Dame and University of Southern Indiana.
“The importance of this elective classification is borne out by the response of so many campuses that have demonstrated their deep engagement with local, regional, national and global communities,” said John Saltmarsh, director of the New England Resource Center for Higher Education, the agency serving as Carnegie's administrative partner for the Community Engagement Classification process. “These campuses are improving teaching and learning, producing research that makes a difference in communities and revitalizing their civic and academic missions.”
