Fairfield University has earned the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national designation recognizing institutions of higher education that demonstrate deep, sustained, and institution-wide commitment to community engagement. The classification is valid through 2032.

Fairfield is one of 277 institutions nationwide to receive the designation in this cycle, which is administered by the American Council on Education, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The classification is based on a rigorous, evidence-based process that examines how colleges and universities collaborate with communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources.

“Community engagement is deeply embedded in Fairfield’s mission, academic identity, and strategic direction,” said Provost Christine Siegel. “As a Jesuit institution, we are committed to an education that fosters both moral and intellectual growth, empowering students to address human suffering and work toward a more just world.”

First classified in 2008, Fairfield University has now earned its third consecutive Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, underscoring a long-standing, commitment to community-engaged teaching, research, and service.

In its notification, the Carnegie Foundation cited Fairfield’s strong alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices, as well as “exemplary institutionalized practices of community engagement.” The Foundation noted that Fairfield’s application demonstrated clarity and distinction at a time when higher education institutions are navigating federal policy and funding shifts, as well as significant societal challenges.

The successful application followed a year-long self-study process chaired by the Center for Social Impact’s Senior Associate Director for Community-Engaged Learning, Andrea Canuel, which engaged faculty, staff, students, and community partners across academic and administrative units.

“The benefits of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification are two-fold: first, it is meaningful recognition of our commitment to excellence in community engagement, and secondly, it is an opportunity to reflect critically on how Fairfield University is partnering with the community to advance the public good and prepare engaged citizens,” said Center for Social Impact Director Melissa Quan. “Through the classification process, we have been able to celebrate areas of excellence while also identifying areas for improvement that, once addressed, will benefit all.” 

Among the academic highlights submitted for the classification was Fairfield University’s partnership with Loyola High School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which has spanned more than a decade, guided by shared Jesuit values, and focused on strengthening teaching, learning, infrastructure, and intercultural understanding.

Fairfield’s community engagement efforts also extend locally and regionally through learning opportunities that address education, environmental sustainability, and civic participation. The University partners with a wide range of community organizations—including Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, Caroline House, Catalyst CT, PT Partners, and Beardsley Zoo, among many others—to provide mutually beneficial collaborations for students and faculty.

A standout example is the Students and Teachers Empowerment Partnership (STEP), a 13-year collaboration between the University’s Center for Social Impact, the School of Education and Human Development, and Cesar Batalla School in Bridgeport, Conn. The partnership supports teachers and students in grades pre-K through eight and provides learning and engagement opportunities for over 100 Fairfield University students annually.

With strong institutional support, engagement across the University’s schools, centers, and institutes, and a growing number of community-engaged learning (CEL) courses—including a 266% increase in CEL courses at the graduate level since 2012—Fairfield is poised to expand its reach in the years ahead. Provost Siegel emphasized the University’ mission to form leaders equipped to make a positive difference: 

“As we move forward, we remain committed to fostering an educational experience that prepares students to lead with purpose, empathy, and a commitment to the common good.”