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Juniata College Earns National Community Engagement Classification

(Posted January 15, 2026)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa.— Juniata College has earned the Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, a designation that recognizes institutions for the depth, quality, and intentionality of their practices, placing it among a select group of U.S. colleges and universities recognized for excellence in community engagement.  

At Juniata, this work spans teaching, learning, research, and co-curricular experiences and is grounded in partnership that benefits both the College and its community partners. 

“Earning this reclassification affirms Juniata’s deep commitment to an education rooted in reciprocal partnerships that advances learning, strengthens communities, and prepares students to lead with purpose,” said James A. Troha, president of Juniata College. “Our faculty, students, staff, and community partners have created a culture of collaboration that connects scholarship to real-world impact while addressing needs beyond our campus.” 

Juniata is one of more than 230 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the classification in the 2026 cycle, as announced by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE). 

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is based on voluntary institutional participation and a rigorous process of self-study, data collection, and documentation. The classification provides an evidence-based framework for assessing how community engagement is embedded in an institution’s mission, identity, and practices, and how those efforts are used for reflection and continuous improvement. 

This marks Juniata’s second time receiving the CE Classification, following its initial designation in 2020. Reclassification requires institutions to demonstrate how their community engagement efforts have deepened and strengthened over time, including progress in institutional infrastructure, assessment, and cross-campus integration. Juniata will be eligible to apply again in 2032. 

“Our colleges and universities build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors – fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.” 

For nearly two decades, the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification has served as the leading national framework for institutional self-assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education, with classification cycles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024, and now 2026. The 2029 cycle will be open to first-time applicants, with the University of San Diego serving as the administrative and operational host. 

“This reclassification reflects not only Juniata’s sustained commitment, but measurable growth in how the institution supports and advances community engagement through many pathways,” said Sarah Worley, professor of communication and director of community-engaged teaching and learning. “It recognizes the collective efforts of faculty, staff, students, and community partners across departments and sectors, as well as institutional leadership who continues to affirm community engagement as central to Juniata’s mission and vision.” 

In the 2026 cycle, 237 institutions earned the CE Classification, joining the 40 institutions classified in 2024, for a total of 277 institutions that currently hold the designation. Of the institutions recognized in 2026, 48 are receiving the classification for the first time, while 189 demonstrated sustained and strengthened commitments through reclassification. 

About Juniata College Sesquicentennial  Juniata College, celebrating its 150th anniversary during the 2025–2026 academic year, has a long tradition of education, integrity, and service. Founded in 1876 as Huntingdon Normal School by Andrew B. Brumbaugh and his cousins, the College has grown from a single classroom above a printshop to a vibrant campus preparing students for lives of leadership, purpose, and meaningful impact. The sesquicentennial year features a range of commemorative events, including lectures, performances, exhibits, and special programs, highlighting Juniata’s history and vision for the future. Learn more at www.juniata.edu. 

About the Carnegie Classifications 

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today’s institutions have in society. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.