Oregon State Achieves Third Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Oregon State University (OSU) has been awarded its third Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, marking a significant recognition of the university’s commitment to community service. This designation emphasizes OSU’s ongoing dedication to serving communities across Oregon and beyond.
History of the Carnegie Classification
OSU first received this prestigious classification in 2010. The university’s commitment was reaffirmed in 2020, and the latest award confirms its continuity of leadership in community-focused education and research through 2026. According to OSU President Jayathi Murthy, community engagement is integral to the institution’s identity as a land-grant university.
Significance of Community Engagement at OSU
The Carnegie Foundation has acknowledged OSU for its strong alignment of mission and resources that facilitate effective community involvement. This endorsement highlights the university’s commitment to building meaningful partnerships that address critical societal needs.
Marina Denny, associate vice provost for engagement, stated that this classification illustrates how a contemporary land-grant university can impact communities positively and foster knowledge advancement.
Guiding Principles and Strategic Plans
OSU’s strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared, emphasizes opportunity expansion, partnership strengthening, and solutions development that benefit both local and global communities. OSU employees, students, and volunteers collaborate with residents across the state, focusing on lifelong learning and innovative solutions.
Notable Community Engagement Projects
OSU’s community engagement initiatives connect academic research with real-world needs. A standout example is a project led by Leigh Torres from OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, which received the C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award. This initiative aims to protect whales and support Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery by minimizing whale entanglements.
- The award-winning team collaborated with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, commercial fishers, and environmental organizations.
- This project also earned recognition through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award in 2025.
Broader Missions and Programs
OSU is committed to serving all 36 counties in Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Programs, such as the Agricultural Experiment Station and the OSU Extension Service, provide reliable, research-based information to improve community welfare.
Highlights of Community-Engaged Projects
Some notable initiatives highlighted in OSU’s 2025 Biennial Engagement Report include:
- Access OSU: Projects aimed at increasing college accessibility for families and students in the Portland Metro area.
- Mexico Study Abroad: Students provided care for 600 animals while gaining valuable training and cultural exchange experiences.
- Ecampus Collaboration: An initiative with the Technology Association of Oregon offering online scholarships to 90,000 tech employees.
- Klamath River Research: A collaborative project with the Yurok Tribe combining Indigenous and Western knowledge for effective environmental management.
The Role of Carnegie’s Classification in National Context
Established in 2006, the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification assesses universities based on their collaborative efforts in teaching, research, and outreach. This recent designation comes on the heels of another prestigious recognition for OSU—the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities in 2025.
Together, these achievements underscore OSU’s dedication to fostering strong local economies, enhancing workforce development, and driving innovation and opportunity in communities.
