Community Engagement

The OSL supports and develops service-learning and academic initiatives that advance community engagement by the University of Georgia to improve student learning and promote the public good. This section of our website highlights some of the activities, pathways, supports, and recognitions relating to community engagement efforts.

According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, community engagement “describes the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”

The University of Georgia was recognized with the 2010 elective Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation, one of 115 institutions receiving the designation in this round of classifications; the next round is in 2015.

At UGA, community engagement work is carried out across campus in UGA’s schools and colleges, by Public Service and Outreach units, and through the efforts of the Office of Service-Learning, the Center for Leadership and Service, and the University Committee on Outreach and Engagement, convened by the Vice President for Public Service & Outreach.