Since 2020, Illinois State University has been a proud Carnegie Community Engagement Classified campus. The Classification is the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education. It is awarded following a self-study process by each institution and reviewed by a national committee. Campuses are classified for a period of six years, after which they must apply for reclassification.
In 2024, the Center for Civic Engagement assembled a task force of campus stakeholders to support the 2026 reclassification application process. The task force convened in May 2024 and worked collaboratively to review the 2020 application, analyze examples of successful re-classification applications, partner with college deans to gather data from academic units, collect and interpret data from across campus, and develop narratives for the application. These narratives also drew from campus/community assessments conducted in partnership with the Town of Normal and supported by the Civic Engagement Advisory Board, Community Consulting Board, and Civic Engagement Ambassadors.
The re-classification application was officially submitted in April 2025. It was reviewed by external experts in civic and community engagement. In January 2026, the Carnegie Foundation announced the full list of classified campuses, including Illinois State University. There are 277 institutions currently classified nationwide, and Illinois State is one of only three public institutions in Illinois to hold this classification.
