MILWAUKEE – Jan. 13, 2026 – The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is proud to announce it has received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, a designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to acknowledge an institution’s commitment to community engagement. MCW originally received the Carnegie CE Classification in 2015 and is currently one of only seven institutions nationwide to receive this prestigious honor specifically as an academic medical institution.
“Community engagement is fundamental to the Medical College of Wisconsin’s leadership in the Milwaukee area and across the state of Wisconsin,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and CEO of MCW. “Community engagement is a guiding principle in our strategic planning and influences how we educate healthcare professionals, conduct research, provide patient care, and collaborate with communities statewide to address pressing health challenges. We’re very pleased that our community engagement efforts have been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.”
Since its inception almost 20 years ago, the Carnegie CE Classification has served as the leading framework for assessing and recognizing academic institutions that excel in fostering meaningful, sustained partnerships with communities, emphasizing mutual benefit. The classification is awarded following a rigorous voluntary application process that evaluates an institution’s commitment to community engagement to enrich scholarship and research; prepare educated, engaged citizens; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.
“This esteemed recognition highlights the Medical College of Wisconsin’s multifaceted efforts to integrate community engagement, one of our four primary missions, across the institution. I’m proud of MCW’s ongoing commitment to addressing community needs, partnering with diverse groups, and advancing health for all,” said Staci Young, PhD, senior associate dean for community engagement and director of the Office of Community Engagement at MCW.
In the 2026 cycle, 237 U.S. colleges and universities earned the Carnegie CE Classification, joining the 40 institutions that were classified in 2024, for a total of 277 institutions that currently hold the designation.
