Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) has been chosen as one of only 361 institutions to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Colleges and universities with an established focus on service within the community were able to apply for the elective classification, according to a statement from CSULB.

The application requires data collection and the documentation of relevant engagement elements in the university’s mission, identity and commitments. It also requires proof of a significant effort on the part of the institution to invest in community service.

CSULB was recognized for its Center for Community Engagement, where 12,109 students participated in some form of community service in 2012 and 2013.

The 2015 classification is considered a re-classification after CSULB was first honored in 2008. It is valid until 2025, at which point the university must apply again for re-classification.

“We are honored that the Carnegie Foundation has recognized Cal State Long Beach with its 2015 Community Engagement Classification,” said Jane Close Conoley, president of CSULB in a statement. “We know that college students who are encouraged to apply what they study in class to outside jobs and projects are more likely to thrive after graduation. That is why we have a strong record of incorporating community service and engagement into many aspects of learning at the Beach.”