KEENE, N.H., 12/11/06 - Keene State College is one of 76 U.S. colleges and universities that have been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for making community engagement a part of their missions. In New England, Antioch, Bates, Middlebury, Middlesex Community College, Tufts, and UMass-Boston also received the new Community Engagement Classification.

"I am very pleased that the value Keene State College places on service has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation," said President Helen Giles-Gee. "It is an extremely important national recognition that acknowledges the campus's deep commitment to the work of engaging our students in community life, which is reflected across the institution."

Keene State was one of 62 institutions in the group that was classified for both curricular engagement and outreach. The term "curricular engagement" describes teaching and scholarship that engages the college and the community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration to address community-identified needs. "Outreach and partnerships" focuses on the application of institutional resources for community use and collaborative interactions with community for research, capacity building, and economic development.

In order to be selected, institutions had to provide descriptions and examples of institutionalized practices of community engagement that showed alignment among mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices. Community partnerships with the Monadnock Center for Successful Transition, the National Education and Outreach Training Institute, and several psychology practicums with local agencies were listed in the College's application. In fall 2005, about 43 percent of the student body participated community- or service-based learning.

A listing of the institutions in the Community Engagement Classification can be found on the Carnegie Web site at www.carnegiefoundation.org.

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