UW Tacoma receives national Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification

As Chancellor of the University of Washington Tacoma, I am exceedingly proud that our institutional identity and mission are deeply rooted in community engagement. Over the past 35 years, the university’s success has been built on strong, reciprocal partnerships with South Sound communities. These relationships enable us all to rise together.

I am so pleased to share that UW Tacoma has earned national recognition and been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This recognition affirms our commitment to ethical and impactful community engagement.

The UW Bothell and Seattle campuses have also received this designation, placing the UW among 277 institutions nationwide to earn this recognition. This achievement demonstrates our institutional commitment to our public mission while building tri-campus capacity for community engagement.

While national recognition matters, the work itself matters most. This achievement was the result of a sustained, multi-year effort, and I extend my sincere thanks to the many faculty and staff whose dedication and hard work made the reclassification application possible. Our faculty, staff, students, and community collaborators address real challenges for our region, integrate community-based teaching and learning into the curriculum, and advance research that directly turns knowledge into impact.

We should all be proud of this designation because it is what we have been doing for 35 years — it is the foundation of who we are as a campus. Thank you for all you do to make this work meaningful and lasting.