Carnegie Salutes Community Works

In January, Clark learned that it had received the 2026 Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, which recognizes the University’s commitment to building partnerships, collaborating with the public and private sectors, and making a positive impact in the Worcester community and beyond.

This elective designation is awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Clark, which previously received the classification in 2010, is among the more than 230 schools that received the classification this year. 

“We are proud of, and celebrate, our commitment to creating partnerships that lead to collaborative and meaningful change within the community shared by Clark, the Main South neighborhood, and the city of Worcester,” said Clark President David Fithian. “We are living when pluralistic civic engagement is urgently needed to better serve the common good, and where shared responsibility for one another is essential to shaping a stronger future for all.”

Clark’s deep engagement includes multiple projects in and for local schools, including the expansion of the University Park Partnership zone, which gives more neighborhood students an opportunity to attend Clark tuition free; Liberal Arts for Returning Citizens, an education program for formerly incarcerated people; and the Collaborative for Community Engagement, which develops and coordinates engagement between Clark and the Main South neighborhood through programming, resources, and opportunities that meet local needs.