The Office of Community Engagement at the University of Iowa serves as a bridge between the university and the community. We facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between faculty, staff, students, and community partners across our state, nation, and world. We offer trainings, workshops, and provide informational resources and expertise that empowers faculty, staff, and students to transform their teaching, learning, and research to make lasting change and a positive impact in our communities.
OCE 2025-2026 Highlights Report
We're excited to share the OCE's 2025–2026 Highlights Report! This year brought numerous milestones — from earning the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification to celebrating award-winning faculty, students, and community partners.
Explore the full report to see the breadth of impact of community engagement at the University of Iowa and across our state below.
Iowa Receives Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
The University of Iowa has earned the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's 2026 Community Engagement Classification. This national recognition honors institutions that demonstrate exceptional commitment to community engagement. First designated in 2015, the UI's re-designation application involved over 120 people across every college on campus, in addition to over a dozen community partners.
This achievement reflects the dedication of faculty, staff, students, and community partners across Iowa and beyond who work together to address important societal issues and contribute to the public good.
CEN "Coffee with the Network" 9/15
Community Engagement Network (CEN) members are encouraged to join us on Tuesday, September 15th from noon – 1:00 pm in 2520D UCC for our first Coffee with the Network meeting of the year, held in person.
Travis Kraus, Director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) and professor in Planning and Public Affairs, and Ashley Laux, Assistant Director, IISC, will share with the network about IISC's new community partnerships and ways that faculty, instructors and students can connect to campus's leading community-engaged learning initiative.
GEC 2026 Cohort Orientation
We were thrilled to get to know our new GEC students during a three-day workshop in January. With guest speakers, breakout sessions, and project development, students developed skills in community engagement. These graduate students are enthusiastic and looking forward to engaging with community partners!
Story of Impact: Fueling the Future
University of Iowa researchers, led by OCE's Faculty Fellow Rima Afifi, are working alongside local organizations to break cycles of poverty in Muscatine through Fueling the Future (FtF). This community-led program provides wraparound support and short-term certificate programs that help families overcome barriers—from housing to workforce development—while centering community voices in every step.
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