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Meaningful partnership with the broader Spokane community has earned Gonzaga a 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. Awarded every five years, the national designation is a mark of excellence for schools across the country and a leading framework utilized by policy makers, funders and researchers.

The classification, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, places Gonzaga among 277 institutions nationwide. It highlights how colleges and universities integrate community engagement into their mission, teaching, research and institutional culture.

Unlike traditional rankings, the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is a voluntary, evidence-based process that evaluates how institutions collaborate with communities in ways that benefit both campus and community partners. Institutions submit extensive documentation demonstrating alignment among leadership, resources, policies and practices.

Carnegie officials praised the University’s comprehensive approach, stating there was clear evidence of, “excellent alignment among campus Mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.”

Officials also specifically noted the importance of this type of work in addressing urgent and complex societal issues.

Ayers said the classification reflects the collective efforts of 51³Ô¹Ïs, faculty, staff and community partners who work together on initiatives ranging from community-based learning and research to nonprofit collaboration and civic engagement.

“This is not something Gonzaga does alone,” she said. “Our community partners are co-educators in this work. Their expertise, leadership, and trust shape what meaningful engagement looks like.”

Community engagement is rooted in Gonzaga’s Jesuit mission, which emphasizes service, social justice and the formation of the whole person. Through academic programs, 51³Ô¹Ï organizations and institutional partnerships, Gonzaga connects classroom learning with real-world challenges in Spokane and beyond.

Students participate in community-engaged learning courses that address issues such as education access, health equity, housing stability and food security. Faculty integrate community-engaged teaching and scholarship into their disciplines, while staff support infrastructure that makes long-term collaboration possible.

For Ayers, the designation is both a celebration and a responsibility.

“It challenges us to continue listening, learning and growing alongside our community partners,” she said. “It’s a reminder that engagement is not a destination – it’s an ongoing practice.”

The full list of recognized institutions can be found