USF earns national recognition for community engagement

By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

The University of South Florida has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The classification recognizes USF's deep, sustained commitment to partnership-driven work that aligns university expertise with community priorities, including economic development, education and health - creating meaningful, shared impact.

USF's approach to community engagement is comprehensive, spanning applied research for public agencies, private industry, career-focused student preparation in high-demand fields and initiatives strengthening and upskilling the local workforce. This work is supported by the Office of University Community Partnerships, which helps facilitate collaboration between USF and its partners.

"We are deeply gratified to receive this designation from the Carnegie Foundation. Ever since receiving an invitation to join the AAU, we have sought to define those things that have made our university uniquely successful," said Eric Eisenberg, senior vice president for University Community Partnerships. "As President (Rhea) Law has said, 'Our communities are our superpower.' We feel privileged to support the knowledge and talent needs of our region and this Carnegie designation for One USF is a validation of the success and importance of that work."

In recent years, USF has expanded its community and industry footprint through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense on nearly 100 interdisciplinary projects, a growing presence in the Tampa Medical & Research District and by becoming the first university to join the Embarc Collective University Partnership Program.

This initiative - expected to grow in the coming year - helps strengthen Tampa Bay's innovation ecosystem, creating pathways for students and faculty to commercialize research, gain startup experience and contribute to regional economic development.

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is valid through 2032. USF will continue to build on this foundation by strengthening existing partnerships and forging new collaborations that benefit students, faculty and the communities it serves.