Middlebury College has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This recognition, which Middlebury last received in 2015, is given to colleges and universities that demonstrate strong connections with their communities through teaching, research, and partnerships that serve the public good.
The classification highlights how Middlebury aligns its mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices to support community engagement. The designation will remain valid through 2032. In total, 237 institutions across the United States earned this distinction for 2026.
“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban, and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors—fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.”
Michelle McCauley, executive vice president and provost at Middlebury College, commended the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) in her nomination letter for offering programs that link academic theory with practical experience while encouraging active citizenship among students.
“Over the last 10 years community engagement has become a central pillar supporting our mission of preparing students for engaged, consequential, and creative lives,” wrote McCauley. “It is a dynamic force that enriches students’ learning experiences, strengthens our ties with the broader community, and answers the call of the liberal arts to serve the public good.”
As part of its application process for this classification, Kailee Brickner-McDonald—director of CCE—and her staff detailed several initiatives from recent years. These included academic clusters like Privilege & Poverty (P&P), which combines coursework with hands-on learning about economic inequality; as well as programs such as Project Assistant Program that trains students to work on community-based projects alongside faculty and local partners.
Middlebury was also recognized for mentoring programs matching undergraduates with local youth—including Language in Motion; Community Friends; and Middlebury College Access Mentors—as well as other efforts focused on serving area residents. According to college data provided during its application process, approximately 80 percent of Middlebury’s students participate in some form of community engagement before graduation.
Additionally, Middlebury has contributed to infrastructure projects benefiting Addison County residents—for example Otter Creek Child Center (OCCC), created to address child care shortages; and Stonecrop Meadows—a collaborative effort aimed at increasing affordable housing options statewide.
“We had reflective conversations with community partners, students, faculty, alumni, and administrative stakeholders that not only gathered relevant information but—in several cases—helped move the work forward,” said Brickner-McDonald. She emphasized growing partnerships between campus groups and local organizations as well as ongoing efforts to address pressing social issues.
The American Council on Education serves as a membership organization advocating for higher education’s future direction. The Carnegie Foundation operates independently as a policy center dedicated to transforming educational opportunities so every student can pursue a healthy life.
