Photo: Bryan Goodchild
UMass Chan Medical School’s community engagement efforts and initiatives are being recognized at the national level with a prestigious classification from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
UMass Chan has met the criteria for the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement and is one of 277 institutions designated as such nationwide. The classification recognizes institutions that demonstrate commitment and excellence in community engagement.
“This classification process touched every corner of our institution, and we have so many people and groups that do community engaged work. This is an opportunity to not only celebrate but also accept this designation as a challenge to adopt the best new practices, find ways to step up our volunteerism, and leverage our person power and innovation into the future,” said John Erwin, vice chancellor for government relations.
UMass Chan, the first medical school awarded the designation in 2008, was recognized for “excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.”
“Since receiving the initial Carnegie classification in 2008, our institution has been intentional about strengthening and broadening our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins. “This steadfast commitment is a hallmark of our special public service mission as the commonwealth’s public medical school. UMass Chan feels privileged to leverage our unique expertise to positively impact the health and wellness of all residents of Massachusetts, and especially those living in the City of Worcester, where we have developed meaningful and enduring partnerships with Worcester Public Schools and other community-based organizations.”
The Carnegie Foundation requires applicants to produce a significant amount of documentation and testimony demonstrating meaningful and consistent involvement and support of individuals, groups and communities.
Photo: Bryan Goodchild
Some of the institution’s initiatives highlighted in the classification renewal application included the UMass Chan Cares annual charitable giving campaign and employee volunteer initiatives; ongoing support to Worcester Public Schools through North Quadrant Support Services; and the community engagement efforts of the Diversity and Inclusion Office, the Collaborative in Health Equity, the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health and the Interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation.
Additionally, UMass Chan included its regional campus at Baystate Health in Springfield as part of its community engagement classification, highlighted by the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health track.
“Our mission is to engage and uplift the people around us. This classification recognizes the value of our work and reflects the institution’s deep commitment to the community,” said Ché Anderson, assistant vice chancellor for city and community relations.
UMass Chan is one of just four medical schools in the country to receive the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement in this cycle. Three other UMass campuses—UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth and UMass Lowell—and three Worcester institutions—Clark University, College of the Holy Cross and Worcester State University—are among the Community Engagement classification designated institutions.
UMass Chan’s Carnegie classification is valid until 2032.
