Community Engagement
Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized The University of Toledo with the 2015 Community Engagement Classification. UT is among the 240 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the designation.
UToledo has adopted the Carnegie Foundation’s definition of community engagement:
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 purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.
Community engagement describes activities that are undertaken with community members. In reciprocal partnerships, there are collaborative community-campus definitions of problems, solutions, and measures of success. Community engagement requires processes in which academics recognize, respect, and value the knowledge, perspectives, and resources of community partners and that are designed to serve a public purpose, building the capacity individuals, groups, and organizations involved to understand and collaboratively address issues of public concern.
APLU Engagement Classification
In 2013, UToledo received the American Public Land Grant Universities’ designation as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University in recognition of its leadership in promoting regional economic development.
The APLU designation recognizes colleges and universities that enhance the competitiveness of their communities and regions through diverse programs, services, and activities that span realms of talent, innovation and place-.
Talent
Talent development includes how universities advance knowledge through programs and activities that educate and prepare people for the 21st century economy.
UToledo is one of just eight engineering schools in the country that integrates work-based learning opportunities into its academic curriculum. The program recently celebrated 25 years of success.
UToledo leads meaningful workforce development
UToledo is the leader of a collaborative initiative aimed at training regional workers for new and existing jobs related to hydrogen production, distribution, storage and use.
Academic Affiliation with ProMedica
The academic affiliation between UToledo’s College of Medicine and Life Sciences and ProMedica enriches the quality of medical education and expands clinical training capacity in Toledo to retain top talent and build a pipeline of medical providers for the future.
Innovation
Innovation begins with basic research and builds on that knowledge for applications that benefit society.
UToledo's water research initiatives
UToledo researchers are protecting the Great Lakes to continue to provide clean drinking water. In 2022 the APLU additionally recognized the University with the Public Impact Research Award for UToledo’s work in water research.
UToledo’s solar expertise propels glass hub
UToledo’s expertise in solar energy research with the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization is supporting a $31M Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, a consortium of public research institutions and private industry.
UToledo fights against human trafficking
Through education, advocacy and research, UToledo is a leader in the fight against human trafficking.
Place
Institutions of higher education contribute to making attractive, competitive communities where people want to live, create jobs, raise families and participate in civic life.
UT gives back to the community through the annual Big Event
Rocket Week brings together University and Community
The annual week-long community event leads up to the home-opening football game and start of the academic year.
Greening UToledo through Service Learning promotes native plantings on campus
Since the campus organization’s inception in 2017, the group has seeded 17 mall garden plots around campus promoting native ecology of the region.