The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has received the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
In honoring UT with the designation, the foundation cited the university’s “excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.” UT originally earned the Community Engagement designation in 2015, and it was valid for 10 years. The new reclassification status lasts through 2032.
“Achieving the Carnegie Classification again is a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to excellence in research and engagement,” said Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Tyvi Small. “This recognition reflects the hard work of our faculty, staff and students and underscores our role as a flagship institution dedicated to creating knowledge that transforms lives and strengthens communities.”
What are elective classifications?
Institutions apply to be recognized by the foundation for a particular elective classification theme. To receive recognition, applicants must show dedication to the theme by providing detailed evidence of their policies and practices.
In the 2025 application, UT highlighted points that demonstrate its deepening commitment to community engagement, including advocacy from Chancellor Donde Plowman and UT System President Randy Boyd, specifically Plowman’s vision of UT as a modern land-grant institution; growth of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement’s staff and infrastructure to better support community-university partnerships; and the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs and its civic engagement activities.
The university detailed 14 key projects and partnerships in the application, including:
- The Winston College of Law Legal Clinic, which provides representation for real clients facing real legal issues;
- Research and Education Aligned for Clinical and Community Health, which leverages River Valley Health’s frontline clinical insights and UT’s research capabilities to identify community health issues;
- Partnerships between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, which introduces K-12 students to STEM careers, trains PhD scholars and builds teams of UT and ORNL researchers to tackle some of the nation’s most challenging research needs;
- The Community-University Research Collaboration Initiative (CURCI), which utilizes university research and community expertise to help address community issues;
- Educator preparation partnerships that are filling the teacher pipeline in Knox County Schools;
- The Spark Innovation Center at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm and its support for some of the nation’s most promising technology startups; and
- The Tennessee Extension Advisory Council, whose input is instrumental in planning and conducting Extension initiatives across the state.
More than 60 campus partners across UT colleges, schools and offices participated in the reclassification application process. Twenty-eight community partner institutions from industry, nonprofits, government and public entities collaborated with the university in support of the initiative and were prominently featured in the application.
Small said, “I am proud of our team who led this process and grateful to everyone who contributed to this significant accomplishment, which affirms our deep connection to the people and places we serve across Tennessee and beyond.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)