From OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Owens Community College received the 2026 Carnegie “Community Engagement” classification, an elective designation that highlights its commitment to community engagement. Owens was first awarded the classification in 2015, with re-classification in 2020, and again this year.
Owens was one of 237 institutions across the United States to earn the classification in 2026 and a total of 277 institutions that currently hold the designation. Only eight schools in Ohio have received the classification, with Owens as the only Ohio community college and one of six in the nation.
The classification was awarded after a process of self-study by Owens leadership. Awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the classification has been a framework for the recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years.
“Owens earned this recognition because of our strong commitment to working alongside community partners to support student success and help our entire region grow. Being a trusted partner in northwest Ohio is something we take seriously, and we’re excited to use the Carnegie Community Engagement classification to build even more meaningful partnerships in the years ahead,” said Krista Kiessling, director of the Owens Center for Campus and Community Connections.
Through the Center for Campus and Community Connections, Owens has been active with voter registration events and community engagement.
To learn more about the Center for Campus and Community Connections, visit owens.edu/connection
