Grand Valley's commitment to community engagement has received national recognition through the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, which highlights the institutions that serve as an economic engine in their communities while advancing research, innovation and real-world learning for students.
The designation is awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching . GVSU is one of 237 U.S. institutions recognized during the 2026 cycle; a total of 277 institutions currently hold the designation.
The classification, which serves as a critical benchmark for today's postsecondary institutions by showing their impact on society, is earned after a self-study by each school.
“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,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors — fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”
President Philomena V. Mantella said this recognition underscores the breadth of work done throughout the university to engage with the wider community and contribute to GVSU's $3 billion annual economic impact on the state.
"Grand Valley's deep and enriching community partnerships are central to our mission and how we make an impact every day on campus and beyond," Mantella said. "Every corner of our university is working to nurture those connections, which also have the benefit of providing meaningful and innovative experiential learning opportunities for our students."
GVSU's community engagement encompasses academics and research, services, external events and programming and more. Industry partners expressing current needs also play a key role in shaping curriculum and preparing students.
