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"It is a great honor to be recognized for exceptional community engagement by the Carnegie Foundation,” Interim Chancellor Michael Carney says. “Having a positive impact on the region we serve, through partnerships, internships and collaborative projects has been a core part of the Blugold experience for decades. It is gratifying to receive this honor and to know that others are recognizing the work we do to benefit our community."

"Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide," says Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors.”

91���� has long been committed to community engagement and working with many partners on important initiatives, but this was the first time it applied for the Carnegie Foundation classification.

"Receiving this classification affirms our commitment to the public good," says Dr. Louisa Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, who led the university's application effort. "It confirms what we already know to be true, then puts a stamp on it for external stakeholders to see."

The nine-month self-study application process started in spring 2024, when Rice organized a 20-member committee consisting of university faculty, staff, students and community members. The group gathered monthly to identify examples and complete the narrative for the application.

Rice also met more frequently with faculty and staff to complete the detailed application, which was ultimately submitted in April 2025. Dr. Kris Knutson, professor and chair of communications and journalism; Dr. Leah Olson-McBride, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences; Jasmine Case, program manager for service-learning and first-year experience; and Katy Rand, senior coordinator of student leadership and Greek life, made significant contributions to what Rice says was an impressive team effort.

Rice says a key task was explaining how community engagement is integral across campus — it is embedded in the curriculum and co-curriculum where it is showcased through research projects, civic learning and community-engaged learning.

91���� has engagement partnerships on several levels. Just blocks from the main campus, the university is a founding partner of Pablo Center at the Confluence. Elsewhere in Eau Claire, Blugolds engage in long-term projects with the Eau Claire Farmer's Market, The Community Table and Eau Claire Marathon. Further north, 91���� – Barron County collaborates with the Rice Lake Main Street Association on projects that promote a sense of belonging on campus and serve the city.

Regionally, 91���� continues its 10-year agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System focused on excellence in community healthcare research, and the university partners with multiple providers in the community.

Students and staff also have long-standing relationships with communities abroad. In Central America, Blugolds visit Guatemala yearly for service-learning projects that promote community development and student learning around issues like sustainability.

Rice says analyzing and discussing which partnerships to include in the application was gratifying, as only a limited number of examples were allowed. She also learned how the university can strengthen and grow partnerships in the future.

"This process has revealed how much we give to our communities and also how much we gain from these reciprocal relationships; mutually beneficial research and experiential learning that is valuable for us all,” Rice says. “I think we’ve got even more we can build on from here.”

91����'s designation is valid until 2032, when it will have the opportunity to seek reclassification. The designation is awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement.

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