Duke’s Commitment to Community Engagement Earns Carnegie Classification

Person at a whiteboard that says "listen, connect, leverage talent"
Duke’s Center for Community Engagement. Photo by Bill Snead, Duke Communications and Marketing

At Duke, community engagement is fully integrated into the campus culture. Examples can be seen in the student engineers who partner with the community as part of Pratt’s First Year Design program, or in Bass Connection’s decade of working with local nonprofits for research projects all year round.

Students, faculty and staff regularly work with area partners to meet community needs, whether they are filling backpacks on MLK Day of Service with essentials for those experiencing homelessness or volunteering at local schools.

This culture of community engagement is now reaffirmed through Duke earning the 2026 Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, which is given by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This year is the third time Duke has earned this designation, receiving it previously in 2008 and in 2015.

This nationally-recognized classification, while elective, honors an institution’s commitment to community engagement throughout the enterprise — across curricula, co-curricular activities, research and culture. The reclassification effort was undertaken in the spirit of examining how thoroughly and meaningfully community-engaged scholarship and practice is embedded across the institution, and follows Duke’s strategic commitment to “Partner With Purpose.”

“I’m delighted that Duke continues to be recognized for its strong commitment to community engagement,” said Provost Alec D. Gallimore. "Community engagement is a vital part of Duke’s academic mission. Alongside our partners, Duke faculty and students are working every day to share knowledge and expertise to address urgent needs in Durham and across North Carolina.” 

Duke remains committed to strengthening relationships in Durham and beyond, serving as a collaborative catalyst to forge purposeful partnerships to improve health and well-being in communities. 

Learn more about this classification on The Partnership Platform.