SFSU recognized for preparing tomorrow’s civic leaders

San Francisco State University has received the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national honor recognizing institutions that demonstrate deep and sustained commitment to community partnership, civic learning and real-world impact.

The distinction, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, honors colleges and universities that intentionally integrate community engagement into teaching, research and service. SFSU is one of 10 California State University campuses to earn the designation this year, joining Chico State, Fresno State, CSU Monterey Bay and others across the system.

Community engagement is a long-standing part of SFSU’s mission as an urban university. Across disciplines and programs, students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences through service-learning courses, community-based research, internships and civic participation activities. Faculty and staff work in partnership with community organizations to support student learning while addressing community-identified priorities. These collaborations reflect a shared commitment to reciprocal relationships, student learning and community impact.

“This recognition affirms the work our students, faculty, staff and community partners do every day to build meaningful relationships across the Bay Area,” said Jennifer L. Gasang, executive director of SFSU’s Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE).

ICCE supports this work by helping to coordinate partnerships, expand engaged learning opportunities and align community engagement efforts with institutional priorities.

Learn more about ICCE and SFSU’s community engagement efforts.