Community engagement initiatives led by faculty and staff across campus contributed to IU Bloomington's 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. Photo by James Brosher, Indiana University Community engagement is central to Indiana University Bloomington’s mission of knowledge creation and dissemination through education, research and engagement. Over the past several years, the campus has continued to institutionalize community engagement initiatives, aligning efforts with broader strategic priorities, particularly those outlined in the IUB 2030 Service to the State pillar.

These priorities emphasize reciprocal partnerships and support in areas such as civic learning, cultural enrichment, public health, education and economic development throughout the state of Indiana and beyond.

IU Bloomington’s commitment to engaging with our wider community was recognized nationally when the campus was selected in January as one of 237 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the prestigious 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.

The recognition highlights IU Bloomington’s integration of community engagement into the campus mission, culture, leadership and practices, demonstrating deep and meaningful partnerships with local, regional and global communities to address urgent societal challenges and advance the public good. IU Bloomington last received the designation in 2020.

“Efforts in units across campus are central to our renewed Carnegie classification and reflect the strength of our shared commitment to community engagement,” IU Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold said. “Work of this nature alongside community partners enhances student learning, informs research and contributes to vibrant communities. It reflects the best of how we serve our south-central region, the state of Indiana and beyond.”

The classification follows a comprehensive self-study led by a campus steering committee, as well as a national review. IU Bloomington’s application reflected the breadth of community-engaged work taking place across schools and units on campus.

Examples of programs highlighted in the 2026 application include:

Laurie Burns McRobbie Serve IT Clinic

Bren Young led a Serve IT project in fall 2025 for Bloomington Community Orchard, an all-volunteer nonprofit. Photo by Chris Kowalczyk, Indiana University

The Laurie Burns McRobbie Serve IT Clinic in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering prepares students to identify and respond to the real needs of nonprofit and governmental organizations. Through hands-on engagement, students earn course credit as they design and implement practical technology solutions that help partner organizations move forward and build capacity.

Project deliverables align with skills that are needed far beyond Bloomington’s public sector. The clinic has completed 630 projects for 204 clients, many of whom return for additional assistance, and has provided $6.9 million in estimated savings to the community.

NextGen Leadership Program

Open to all IU Bloomington undergraduates, the NextGen Leadership Program in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs introduces students to public service leadership and incorporates public service into their future careers. Since its launch in fall 2021, 346 students have participated in the program.

NextGen hosts eight seminars and four workshops each year, as well as one summit whose topic changes each year. Participants in past summits have learned about grant-making, run policy case competitions and worked directly with City of Bloomington officials on projects such as pedestrian safety.

Rural Placemaking Studio

New signs were made for small businesses in Shoals, Indiana, as part of a partnership with Indiana University's Rural Placemaking Studio. Photo by James Brosher, Indiana UniversityThe Rural Placemaking Studio, launched in summer 2024, equips local leaders in rural Indiana with the skills, design support and collaborative networks needed to transform public spaces. Part of the Center for Rural Engagement and working in tandem with the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, it offers IU Bloomington students opportunities for professional development and community-engaged learning that set them apart in their field.

Faculty and students from the studio have partnered with 25 community groups across 19 counties and delivered designs, schematics and conceptual layouts for 30 placemaking projects.

Center for Community-Engaged Dissemination and Implementation Research and Hoosier Health Check

Launched in 2024, the Center for Community-Engaged Dissemination and Implementation Research in the School of Public Health-Bloomington builds the partnership infrastructure that turns community priorities into sustainable public health impact.

A hub for community-engaged implementation research at IU Bloomington, the center brings together community organizations, health systems, schools, recovery partners and researchers to design, evaluate, adapt and scale public health strategies grounded in local priorities and sustained over time. The center convenes and supports a network of over 200 members committed to strengthening prevention systems and advancing health equity across Indiana.

Hoosier Health Check is a collaborative, place-based preventive health initiative supported by the center that delivered over 400 cardiovascular and metabolic screenings across more than 20 community locations in the past year, strengthening early detection and referral pathways in rural and semi-rural communities. IU Bloomington students from public health, nursing and related disciplines volunteer alongside community partners, gaining hands-on experience in preventive care delivery while contributing to local health improvement efforts.

These examples are just a few of the many programs across campus that exemplify IU Bloomington’s core mission of partnering with and serving the community close to home, as well as nationally and globally. In the coming months and years, IU Bloomington will continue to ensure that these efforts create positive impact for people and communities everywhere.

Caroline Dwyer Gilley is a strategy and innovation specialist at Indiana University.