Central College is one of 120 institutions nationwide named to the Carnegie Foundation Advancement of Teaching’s 2008 Community Engagement Classification. Central was listed in the Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnership category.

According to Carnegie, Central’s application documented excellent alignment among mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement. Nearly 200 colleges and universities have been identified since 2006.

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of Congress, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center and a highly established leader in higher education.

The Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnership category includes institutions that fit both the Curricular Engagement and the Outreach and Partnership criteria. Curricular Engagement is described as teaching, learning and scholarship which engage faculty, students and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration. Interactions address community-identified needs and deep students’ civic and academic learning while enhancing community well-being. Outreach and Partnership focuses on the application and provision of institutional resources for community use with benefits to both campus and community. Another focus is on collaborative interactions with community and related scholarship for mutually beneficial exchange, exploration and application of knowledge, information and resources.

Central’s office of community-based learning recognizes that expertise resides within community.

“Organizations and citizens make it possible for Central College to engage effectively in the community,” said Cheri Doane, director of community-based learning at Central College. “The Carnegie classification was based on various forms of community engagement. Support from the senior administration, our academic service-learning program, student life activities, and faculty scholarship were factors in our selection.”

Students at Central College can volunteer in community, or may opt for academic service-learning, which affords students an opportunity to connect skills and classroom knowledge with a community service experience. In addition, Central holds an annual service day each spring in which students, faculty and staff unite to volunteer with several community projects. The Central community works side-by-side with community partners in efforts to alleviate some of their work load which may include spring cleaning, working with students and small rebuilding projects.