Contact: Diane L. Zimmerman, University Outreach and Engagement, (517) 353-8977, zimmerdl@msu.edu; or Gisgie Dávila Gendreau, University Relations, (517) 432-0924, gendrea3@msu.edu

2/9/2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. – From pre-K-12 schools to the juvenile justice system to medical practice – Michigan State University’s efforts to measure its community engagement work have been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Carnegie has selected MSU and 12 other colleges and universities to participate in a pilot project to help develop a new Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education around the engagement mission.

“We are pleased to be able to work with colleagues across the United States to assist with the development of the Carnegie Classifications. Michigan State University faculty and academic staff have set high standards for the scholarship of engagement and for university-community partnerships and it is exciting to be able to contribute the MSU perspective to the classification framework being developed by the Carnegie Foundation,” said Hiram Fitzgerald, assistant provost for university outreach and engagement, who, with Diane Zimmerman, director of administration for university outreach and engagement, represents MSU in this project.

Fitzgerald and Zimmerman will help find ways to measure a university’s engagement, including how well it applies the knowledge gained by faculty and community partners to societal issues.

Already, MSU is measuring its own efforts. Results will be revealed in May and are expected to include what percentage of faculty time is spent on outreach and engagement; where these activities are taking place; and which colleges and units are involved in these projects.

“Public dollars support higher education in various ways,” Zimmerman said. “One of the ways the university meets its social responsibility is to engage directly with the community. We have a mutually beneficial, reciprocal relationship, so we apply our scholarship and expertise to social issues as a way of giving back to the community in response to its investment in us.”

These new measurement tools will allow the university to show how and to what extent it is doing just that, she added.

As part of the 2005 revision of its widely used classification system, Carnegie is developing several classifications that will not include all colleges and universities, but instead will allow institutions to elect to participate.

The 13 universities will help develop a classification focused on community engagement. The new classification system will be introduced in the second half of this year to coincide with the foundation’s centennial.

For additional information on MSU’s outreach initiatives, visit www.outreach.msu.edu