Auburn University ranked among top U.S. colleges excelling at community outreach
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Auburn University has been ranked 20th among U.S. colleges and universities providing outreach and community support on a local, national and international scale, particularly during this year’s coronavirus crisis.
The ranking was recently published by Great Value Colleges, a national online information site providing research-based articles and rankings covering various aspects of college programs and services state-by-state.
The article focuses on how universities are adapting their outreach and community engagement during the coronavirus pandemic, citing sources on exemplary outreach programs ranging from the Princeton Review and Times Higher Education to the Engagement Scholarship Consortium and the Carnegie Foundation.
The criteria for the ranking included the range of community outreach programs, aggregated ranking on the methodology lists, evidence of effective response to the coronavirus and innovation in outreach programs.
“These colleges are making the world a better place through direct community support,” noted the article.
Auburn, which is a member of the Engagement Scholarship Consortium and holds the Carnegie Foundation’s prestigious Community Engagement classification, was highlighted among other major institutions including The Ohio State University, University of Georgia, Penn State University and the University of North Carolina.
Auburn was cited for the global scope of its outreach mission, community partnerships and effectiveness in providing educational access and improving quality of life for the public. The article also noted the university’s swift community responses to the coronavirus crisis, including University Outreach’s protective mask initiative.
“It’s great to receive this affirmation of Auburn’s outreach mission and our status as an elite Carnegie community-engaged institution,” said Royrickers Cook, vice president for University Outreach. “It is especially significant because it highlights our rapid response to the pandemic crisis, as well as the effectiveness of faculty engagement toward alleviating the impact of coronavirus in our community.”
The article is available on the Great Value Colleges site.
Media interested in this story can contact Communications Director Preston Sparks at (334) 844-9999 or preston.sparks@auburn.edu.
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.
