Image courtesy FHSU

Fort Hays State University has been awarded the Community Engagement Classification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

This recognition highlights FHSU’s strong commitment to partnership and reciprocity, reflecting the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources between the university and the communities it serves locally and globally. The new Carnegie Classification follows the Leadership for Public Purpose Classification awarded to FHSU in 2024, making the university one of only 11 institutions worldwide, and the only one in Kansas, to hold both distinctions.

The Carnegie Foundation’s elective classifications are based on a voluntary application process requiring extensive evidence of institutional engagement and leadership. FHSU’s application underwent a detailed review, examining the quality, breadth, and depth of its community engagement efforts, as well as the integration of these initiatives into strategic planning and institutional priorities.

The university plans to use this recognition to further strengthen collaborations with community partners and continue advancing impactful engagement initiatives.