[292]MTSU EARNS SELECT CARNEGIE FOUNDATION DESIGNATION

Feb. 3, 2009

MTSU EARNS SELECT CARNEGIE FOUNDATION DESIGNATION

CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

MURFREESBORO—The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905, recently selected Middle Tennessee State University for the 2008 Community Engagement Classification, which recognizes universities that demonstrate commitment to curricular engagement, and outreach and partnerships.
MTSU joins such schools as California State, Duke, Clemson and Purdue universities and 107 other institutions of higher learning across the nation “where teaching, learning and scholarship engage faculty, students and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration.” The designation also reflects the university’s sharing its resources with the community and being involved in partnerships that enhance scholarship, research and economic development.
“Community engagement is central to our academic core,” commented Faye Johnson, assistant to the executive vice president and provost for special initiatives, who, noted her boss Dr. Kaylene Gebert, edited and wrote much of the proposal submitted for consideration. “This is a very prestigious designation [that recognizes good work] to implement and sustain an integrated campuswide commitment to continuous community engagement,” Johnson said.
The report underwent a peer review to meet stringent criteria before it could qualify for the classification. MTSU’s American Democracy Project, coordinated by Dr. Jim Williams, history professor, was one of the models lifted up in the proposal that exemplified civic engagement demonstrated by MTSU students. Another initiative that propelled MTSU to the top classification was the university’s award-winning Experiential Learning Scholars Program, under the leadership of Dr. Jill Austin, chair of the management and marketing department.
“We are extremely proud of the designation and remain committed to this initiative in every way,” noted Dr. Gloria Bonner, assistant to the president, in the Office for Community Engagement and Support. “Dr. Rosemary Owens, university strategic partnership coordinator, worked closely with the Office of Academic Affairs and a dynamic team of individuals representing our very fine institution.”
According to the Carnegie Foundation’s Web site, 217 institutions indicated their intentions to apply by the March 1 deadline. By Sept. 1, 70 institutions had withdrawn from the application process, primarily declaring a lack of readiness for the classification requirements. In addition to the 111 schools classified in both Curricular Engagement, and Outreach and Partnerships, another two were classified in Curricular Engagement only, and six were classified in Outreach and Partnerships only. The 119 successful applicants represented institutions from 34 states and Puerto Rico.
To learn more about the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, visit http://www.carnegiefoundation.org.

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