UNMC earns 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, one of the highest national honors recognizing an institution’s commitment to community engagement.

The designation gives UNMC an exceptional “mark of excellence” among higher education institutions – and especially so among academic medical centers. UNMC is one of only seven comparable institutions in the U.S. with the classification.

UNMC first achieved the classification in 2015. The following year, under the guidance of H. Dele Davies, MD, then-senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, UNMC created the UNMC Office of Community Engagement to oversee institutional-level coordination and tracking.

Dr. Davies, now UNMC interim chancellor, applauded the renewed classification, which was announced Monday by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

“Receiving the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is a meaningful recognition of the partnerships that make UNMC stronger,” Dr. Davies said. “Our communities are central to our teaching, research and clinical care, and our partnerships in Nebraska are deeply personal because they are rooted in the places where we live and work.”

Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation, said in the national announcement: “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. 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.”

Heidi Keeler, PhD, assistant vice chancellor with the UNMC Office of Community Engagement, said UNMC’s recognition reflects years of dedication across UNMC’s campuses and in neighborhoods throughout Nebraska. Dr. Keeler said students, staff and faculty have come together with community partners to lead with trust, partnership and shared purpose.

“This achievement, although led by the UNMC Office of Community Engagement, could not be successful without the support of every person at UNMC who has led or participated in community engaged efforts, as well as our amazing community partners,” she said. “This is for each of you. I want to thank you for your passion and commitment to our community.”

Dr. Davies also expressed his gratitude to the UNMC community. “We’re incredibly thankful to our community partners and to our faculty, staff and students for their commitment to each other and to a healthier future for all. I want to especially thank Dr. Keeler and her team in the UNMC Office of Community Engagement for their leadership throughout this entire process and for everything they do every day to foster ongoing collaboration between UNMC and our partners.”

Behind this milestone was a rigorous self-study that examined how deeply community engagement lives in UNMC’s mission, classrooms, programs and partnerships. Ten foundational indicators — including reciprocity with community partners and sustained institutional support — were reviewed through two rounds of national peer and expert evaluation, confirming that UNMC’s commitment to community is not symbolic, but measurable, embedded and enduring.

Dr. Keeler said: “I could not be prouder of each faculty, staff and student at UNMC. Best-practice community engagement takes time, passion and strength over time. We often celebrate the outcomes of this work, but rarely do we recognize the day-to-day work that is done. To our community collaborators, thank you for your trust.”

She continued, “The UNMC Office of Community Engagement has been committed to elevating community engagement and growing community presence in all areas of our academic mission. Today we didn’t just reach a milestone — we ignited a legacy.”