Wayne State University today announced it has been selected to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The classification is the result of Wayne State's commitment and dedication to its Midtown Detroit community over the last six years. It marks the second time Wayne State has earned the distinction since the classification was established in 2006.  

"As a public, urban research university, I believe it is our obligation to contribute to the economic vitality and improved quality of life of our surrounding community," said Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. "The Carnegie Foundation's Community Engagement Classification recognizes that Wayne State has met those obligations." 

As part of the first group of universities to receive the classification in 2008, Wayne State is now one of 157 institutions to earn Community Engagement reclassification. In total, 361 campuses hold the distinction. 

"This is the first time that there has been a reclassification process," noted Amy Driscoll, the classification's consulting scholar. "We are seeing renewed institutional commitment, advanced curricular and assessment practices, and deeper community partnerships--all sustained through changes in campus leadership and within the context of a devastating economic recession." 

An increase in the scope and depth of Wayne State's community engagement activity during the last six years was key to its 2015 selection. Its engagement efforts--public safety, economic development, community outreach and service--have helped Midtown flourish as a place to live, learn, work and play in the midst of Detroit's bankruptcy. 

While some of its most notable community support included public safety and financial contributions to projects -- including the M1-Rail and the Live Midtown incentive -- allocating resources to new university personnel paved the way for the development of more robust economic development activity and enhanced efforts to foster diversity and inclusion. 
In 2011, the university named its first vice president of economic development, and that department has grown to include 12 staff members, who focus on leveraging the university's assets to benefit the community. The department partners with private developers to add new residential and retail space to Midtown; lease core research equipment and facilities to outside researchers; and develop, attract and retain young professionals.

The university appointed its first associate provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer in 2014, who  will lead and shape Wayne State's efforts in the community as it pertains to diversity, inclusion, educational opportunity, cultural understanding and competency, and civil and human rights.

Finally, Wayne State was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its students' community outreach efforts. Wayne Law students represent real clients on real legal matters through the Business and Community Law Clinic and Patent Procurement Clinic. In the program's first year, students supplied--free of charge--more than $200,000 worth of legal services to local inventors and entrepreneurs. 

Wayne State medical students founded Michigan's first student-run free clinic, which offers a full array of health care services.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students.