Pace University Earns Carnegie Foundation National Recognition

Pace University has once again been recognized as a national leader in civic and community engagement, earning the Carnegie Foundation’s 2026 Community Engagement Classification.

Administered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in partnership with the American Council on Education, the classification is awarded following a rigorous, evidence-based review of institutional practices, partnerships, and outcomes.

At Pace, community engagement is embedded in academic and co-curricular design through the Civic Engagement and Public Values (CEPV) course requirement and university support for faculty and partners via programs and initiatives including our Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR).

“This recognition affirms Pace’s identity as a university where academic learning is rooted in community partnership,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov. “In both New York City and Westchester County, our students and faculty collaborate with local organizations to address real challenges, strengthen civic life, and expand access to education, healthcare, and environmental resources. It reflects the work we do every day and the values we hold as an institution.”

Students contribute tens of thousands of service hours annually through civic engagement courses and CCAR initiatives. For example, in 2023, Pace students logged more than 57,000 hours of service through Civic Engagement and Public Values courses and CCAR.

Pace’s community engagement is reflected in a wide range of academic and community partnerships, including:

• Islands, Archipelagos, and Cultural Ecologies, a three-year interdisciplinary initiative supported by a $476,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, which connects environmental justice, the humanities, and place-based learning by examining island ecologies in New York City and beyond.
• The City and the Sea: A New York City Fellowship in Civics and Public Service, supported by a $300,000 grant from The Teagle Foundation, which connects students with public offices and community organizations through coursework and internships focused on civic life and public service.
• A partnership with Feeding Westchester, which piloted the county’s first college-partnered mobile food pantry, providing fresh food to campus communities while supporting food access and nutrition education. During the 2023–2024 academic year, the initiative served more than 2,200 households.
• A 16-year collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project, which engages Pace faculty and students in restoration science and environmental education, supporting efforts to restore New York Harbor while expanding STEM learning opportunities for more than 10,000 students and hundreds of teachers.

In the 2026 cycle, 237 institutions nationwide earned the CE Classification marking the third time the University has been recognized since the classification was first introduced in 2006.

In addition, Pace University was recognized in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education as one of only 33 institutions nationwide to earn the dual designations of Research College & University (RCU) and Opportunity College & University (OCU), reflecting the University’s commitment to research, access, and student success.

“Civic engagement at Pace is deeply integrated into our academic mission,” said Rebecca Tekula, PhD, interim associate provost for external engagement and faculty opportunity at Pace University. “Through coursework, community partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities, our students develop the knowledge, skills, and responsibility needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to civic life.”

“Pace University is a trusted partner in Westchester County’s work to strengthen communities and expand opportunity,” said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins. “Through sustained collaboration with our county agencies and local nonprofits--grounded in civic engagement, applied research, and student learning--Pace helps deliver practical solutions to real challenges, and we deeply value the university’s long-term commitment to serving the public good.”

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification recognizes institutions that integrate civic learning into their curriculum, sustain reciprocal partnerships with communities, and align engagement efforts with institutional mission and strategy.