Carnegie Foundation recognizes Oklahoma State’s legacy of community engagement

Thursday, January 8, 2015

In recognition of its legacy of serving the state and the nation, Oklahoma State University has received 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation.

“As a premier land-grant university, community engagement is core to our mission,” said Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis. “OSU has remained true to our land-grant roots by sharing our work and our knowledge for the greater good. We are honored by this recognition.”

OSU’s community engagement, extension and outreach efforts take many forms and cross all disciplines. The work includes the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station systems, fire safety training, executive business training, nutrition and health programs, services and distance learning, and much more.

Carnegie defines community engagement as 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.

The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; prepare educated, engaged citizens; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.

The assessment practices required by the Community Engagement Classification cover a broad range of purposes: assessing community perceptions of institutional engagement; tracking and recording of institution-wide engagement data; assessment of the impact of community engagement on students, faculty, community, and institution; identification and assessment of student learning outcomes in curricular engagement; and ongoing feedback mechanisms for partnerships.

In its application, Oklahoma State listed a number of partnerships that demonstrate it community engagement, including:

The New Product Development Center pairs Oklahoma's small manufacturers with OSU faculty, staff and students to help commercialize new product concepts.
The Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research supports all areas of inquiry that directly and indirectly affect hospitality and tourism operations and management.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Center provides real world solutions to the water challenges that exist in Oklahoma.
Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center develops value-added enterprises that bring products, jobs and revenue to the state.
The OSU Center for Family Resilience creates and disseminates scientific knowledge that builds real solutions for individuals and families.
The Center for Research in STEM Teaching and Learning nurtures and encourages collaborative endeavors that promise extraordinary outcomes.

Oklahoma State University joins 361 campuses that have earned Community Engagement Classification. The classification takes place on a five-year cycle. To learn more, go to http://www.nerche.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=341&Itemid=601