Metropolitan State University of Denver has been awarded the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national recognition that validates years of sustained, campuswide work to serve the public good.
The classification, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, honors colleges and universities that collaborate with community partners through teaching, research and service. MSU Denver is one of just 277 institutions nationwide and four in Colorado to receive the designation, which is valid through 2032.
“This is a significant recognition,” said Elizabeth Parmelee, Ph.D., associate vice president of Undergraduate Studies. “It reflects how deeply community engagement is woven into the fabric of MSU Denver—in our values, our curriculum and our partnerships. Receiving the certification affirms our commitment to being an active member of our Colorado community.”
Community engagement at MSU Denver includes:
- Volunteering and civic participation, including voting
- Internships and other experiential learning opportunities
- Organizing and participating in community events
- Faculty partnerships with community organizations and campus offices
- Collaborative projects such as quantitative and qualitative research
- Development of resource guides and best practices
- Additional initiatives designed to create mutually beneficial community impact
“This recognizes our work in deepening partnerships, leveraging community assets and addressing urgent challenges,” said Vincent Piturro, Ph.D., professor and Carnegie Task Force chair. “It honors the ways our faculty and staff show up for students, creating opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and putting knowledge into action through community and service.”
The University’s Carnegie application process was a monthslong, institution-wide effort. A dedicated task force compiled hundreds of examples of programs, research, partnerships and practices that embody MSU Denver’s commitment to civic responsibility. The final application demonstrated not only the depth of that work but its alignment with MSU Denver’s mission, values and strategic plan.
Learn more about MSU Denver’s Carnegie application.
By the numbers: Community engagement at MSU Denver
- 75.4% student voting rate in 2020 — a 7.4-point increase from 2016
- 85.1% student voter registration rate
- 1,513 students enrolled in community-engaged learning (CEL) courses in 2022–23 (9% of all students)
- 44 CEL-designated courses and 86 sections offered
- CEL courses offered across 9 academic departments (18% of all departments)
- 56 faculty teach CEL courses (3.5% of all faculty), including 42% tenured/tenure-track
- Students in CEL courses show a 4.63%–10% higher retention rate than the institutional average
- 460+ annual participants in Dialogue & Civic Engagement Week
- MSU Denver students score significantly higher in the National Survey of Student Engagement civic engagement metrics and participate in more high-impact practices than Carnegie peers
Mark your calendars for upcoming community engagement events
Civic Engagement and Carnegie Certification Celebration
Feb. 3
4–6 p.m.
Frame by Frame: Democracy in Focus
Feb. 12
Feb. 25
March 11
March 31
Dialogue and Civic Engagement Week
April 6–10
1 Book/1Project/2 Transform – celebrating 15 years!
Castro Visiting Professor 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform Program collaboration
Author visit April 14–15
