About Outreach & Engagement
Universities change lives.
Through outreach and engagement, we engage, serve, and work in partnership with communities for the co-creation of knowledge, addressing the needs of today and tomorrow.
What is University-Community Engagement?
The Carnegie Community Engagement classification defines Community Engagement as: “The collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity” (Carnegie Foundation, 2008).
Colorado State University applies this definition of community engagement across a spectrum of our engagement and outreach activities. University-community engagement includes communities of place, interest, purpose, and practice. If you live in Colorado, even if you have never been to a CSU campus, we consider you a part of our community.
What is Engaged Scholarship?
Engaged Scholarship is the integration of academic scholarship and community engagement. As a member of the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, our goal is to work with communities, providing university knowledge and resources to help build community capacity.
Introduced in 2019, the Continuum of Engaged Scholarship is a framework to identify the breadth of engaged research, teaching and service activities. Engaged scholars at CSU co-create solutions and new knowledge with communities, while offering a model to individual faculty and departments for documenting progress, demonstrating and evaluating impact. Adapted from the International Association for Public Participation, CSU’s Continuum of Engaged Scholarship provides a roadmap for us to challenge ourselves and with the goal of continuous improvement.
CSU’s National Designations for Community Engagement
CSU earned the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement designation in 2000 and 2015, and continues to hold the designation. The classification is a rigorous nationally reviewed process and documents important aspects of institutional mission, identity and commitments to engaged scholarship. It is an evidence-based certification of institutional practice, similar to an accreditation process of self-study. More about the Carnegie Engagement Classification.
In 2016, CSU earned the Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Universities Designation from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The IEP Awards Program recognizes institutions who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to and achievement in economic and community development – CSU received the “Place” Award in 2016. More about the Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities Program.
Colorado State University’s Awards & Recognition
In 2018, CSU earned the “Talent” Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The Innovation and Economic Prosperity Awards Program recognizes institutions who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to and achievement in economic and community development. More about the Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities Program.
CSU has been recognized on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Honor Roll identifies institutions that support exemplary service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. More about the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
