NIU's Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has designated Northern Illinois University an “Engaged Institution,” a classification bestowed on only 360 universities in the U.S. This classification recognizes universities that excel at collaborating with the larger community “for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.” These collaborations benefit NIU students while also advancing our public mission.

NIU serves an extraordinarily diverse region of urban, suburban and rural communities, and our student population reflects this diversity. NIU's community engagement and service-learning activities have played an important role in building connections between NIU and its home community.

Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development's (OERD) Role in Community Engagement and Engaged Learning

OERD provides leadership, partnership and support for numerous outreach activities of the seven colleges and collaborates with university units to deliver non-credit programs and regional development activities.

OERD’s programming helps to fulfill the university’s core values of innovation, social mobility and transformation of the wider world. NIU’s unique location at the intersection of Chicagoland and the rural Midwest allows us to make an impact both globally and locally, improving educational attainment, workforce development, equitable economic development and quality of life throughout the region.