BGSU recognized for outstanding community engagement

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Bowling Green State University’s longtime commitment to community engagement has again been recognized nationally. The University was selected as one of only 240 institutions to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation.

BGSU is a longtime leader in the area of service-learning and student community engagement. According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, the University has one of the highest participation rates in the country.

According to the foundation, BGSU “documented excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.”

Just 361 colleges and universities—less than 10 percent of the more than 4,000 institutions nationwide—now hold this prestigious designation.

“The classification is a wonderful recognition for the day-to-day work of faculty, staff and students who are engaged in the community as volunteers, as part of a service-learning course, as interns, as researchers, and active citizens committed to linking their skills, expertise, and passion to making a change in the world,” said Dr. Jane Rosser, director of service-learning. “It builds on a deep and pervasive legacy of community engagement at BGSU and it puts us in an elite category of institutions who are deeply committed to civic engagement and public service.”

In its more than 100 page application, the University had to show how it had improved partnership practices and relationships, how faculty have incorporated community-based teaching and learning into courses as well as research, document the changes and trends that have taken place, and demonstrate how BGSU has integrated community partnerships into study abroad programs, internships and co-ops, and student research.

“This honor is a wonderful recognition of the significant strides we’ve made to strengthen existing, and to create new, community partnerships,” said President Mary Ellen Mazey. “BGSU is able to accomplish its goal of educating personally and socially responsible students by collaborating with the community to address vital community needs.”

The classification is valid until 2025.