Montclair State University has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This designation recognizes institutions that show a strong commitment to community engagement, defined as collaboration between universities and their surrounding communities.
Montclair is among 230 institutions receiving this classification in 2026, joining a total of 277 institutions nationwide with this recognition.
“At Montclair State University, we’re achieving clear, mission-driven goals and demonstrating that universities can pursue a complex set of socially critical objectives without compromise. We are pleased to be recognized again for our commitment to community engagement. This recognition is all the more meaningful, having recently been among the first institutions designated with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose,” said President Jonathan Koppell. “This makes us one of four federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Carnegie-classified research institutions to hold both the engagement and public-purpose imprimaturs. I am so proud of the work done by Montclair staff and faculty to demonstrate what it truly means to be a public-serving university.”
Montclair State University was established in 1908 as a teacher-training institution in New Jersey and now operates as a public research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various fields including arts, sciences, education, and professional training. The university enrolls about 23,546 students—approximately 18,062 undergraduates and 4,508 graduates—and serves more than 23,000 students on its campus that spans several New Jersey municipalities such as Montclair, Little Falls, Clifton, and Bloomfield (https://www.montclair.edu). Its campus covers 252 acres with an extensive academic complex (https://www.montclair.edu).
The Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships at Montclair was created in 2023 under President Koppell’s leadership. It oversees initiatives like Community Action Nexus and offers programs connecting academic study with real-world experiences through community-engaged teaching and research opportunities.
Projects such as Paterson One Square Mile and The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium illustrate how Montclair partners with local organizations throughout New Jersey.
“The Carnegie elective classification acts as the outward representation of the significant community engagement we know is happening here at Montclair,” said Director of Public Service Programs Krystal Woolston. “Putting together the application, I was so inspired by all of the projects, programs, and initiatives that are happening across both campuses that truly exemplify what it means to live out the public purposes of education serving in and with our local communities.”
Students can participate in several programs aimed at promoting service learning:
– The Bonner Leader Program encourages ongoing student involvement in service activities.
– NextGen Service Corps provides interdisciplinary perspectives on complex challenges while preparing students for careers in public service.
– Community-Engaged Learning links coursework with practical experience in community settings.
– An undergraduate minor in Leadership Development Through Civic Engagement trains students from any major to lead others through active participation within their communities.
Faculty members have access to professional development through Montclair’s Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning Fellows program.
“Being recognized as a Carnegie Community-Engaged campus reflects the depth of our partnerships and our shared commitment to advancing opportunity and the public good,” said Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Bryan Murdock. “This designation affirms the collaborative work of our students, faculty, and community partners to create meaningful, lasting impact.”
Montclair State University is noted for its focus on academic excellence combined with inclusive access; more than half its student body comes from underrepresented minority groups. It stands as New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution (https://www.montclair.edu). The university has also received national rankings among top public universities for value and social mobility (https://www.montclair.edu).
For prospective students interested in these opportunities or journalists seeking further information or interviews regarding these initiatives or recognitions at Montclair State University: contact details are available via their official channels.
