Portland Community College earns 2026 Carnegie elective classification for community engagement
Photos and story by James Hill
Portland Community College has been selected to receive the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a national recognition awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The classification is valid through 2032.
More than 230 U.S. colleges and universities received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. A listing of all the institutions that currently hold the classification endorsement can be found here.
Community events like the Jade International Market Night at the Southeast Center are core to PCC’s community engagement.
According to ACE and the Carnegie Foundation, PCC’s application demonstrated strong alignment across the college’s mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices that support community engagement. The review cited PCC’s ability to document institutionalized and exemplary approaches to partnership-building—showcasing how the college works alongside community partners to leverage shared assets and create meaningful public impact.
“This recognition reflects the depth of PCC’s partnerships and the commitment of our faculty, staff, students and community collaborators,” said PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings. “Community engagement is not an add-on at PCC – it is central to how we teach, learn and serve, and we are proud to be recognized for work that strengthens the communities we call home.”
The CE Classification is awarded following a process of self-study by each institution. The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years.
Training outreach to rural communities: Welding faculty Todd Barnett uses the Mobile Welding Trailer to reach under-served communities to provide PCC’s training.
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 have previously held it. The 2026 cohort includes a diverse range of institutions, with 157 public institutions, 80 private colleges and universities, and 81 Minority Serving Institutions represented among the recipients.
“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they 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 useable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”?
For more on PCC’s community engagement, visit the College Relations webpage.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »