University of Richmond Receives National Recognition for Commitment to Community Engagement
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond has been awarded the 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a national recognition honoring the University’s commitment to community engagement and community outreach.
UR was one of 52 private colleges and universities to receive this classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching during its 2020 certification cycle. In total, 359 colleges and universities in the U.S. are currently classified.
“We know that the University of Richmond and the Richmond region are enhanced when we join together through authentic relationship building and collaboration to create a thriving region for all,” said President Ronald A. Crutcher.
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification requires extensive, evidence-based documentation of institutional practices that showcase a commitment to community engagement and outreach.
UR first received the classification in 2010 and has continued to prioritize and grow efforts to collaborate with the greater Richmond Community.
“UR’s commitment and enthusiasm to partner with our community is evident in our daily operations,” said Sylvia Gale, interim director for the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement. “This is true whether you are looking at UR Downtown, which provided free space for nearly 150 community-sponsored events last year; at the ways our procurement office prioritizes local vendors; or at the hundreds of UR students who work and learn alongside community members to build on community assets and contribute to a wide array of community solutions.”
Since 2010, UR has increased the number of community-engaged classes by 62 percent. These classes pair what’s being taught in the classroom with community projects and priorities. In the 2017-18 academic year, 41 percent of undergraduate students were enrolled in at least one community-based learning class. 87 percent of the Class of 2019 took at least one community-based learning class.
Examples of community-engaged classes include:
- WILL* Senior Seminar students who collaborate with Advocates for Richmond Youth on projects to address youth homelessness in Richmond.
- Accounting students who volunteer with UR Downtown’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.
- Biology students who conduct rock pool research at the James River.
For more information on UR’s long history as a partner to the Richmond region, visit engage.richmond.edu.
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