Access for Researchers
An open access policy for the Carnegie Community Engagement Elective Classification data was developed in 2019. This entailed preparing and consolidating the data from multiple cycles into one Carnegie Community Engagement Dataset, and creating and piloting a process for providing access to interested researchers. There are currently 352 Community Engagement Classified campuses (linked here).
We remain committed to making the Carnegie Community Engagement Dataset accessible to all qualified researchers in the spirit of full participation. The team is aware of the burden of data access and the costs associated with securing datasets in the higher education field that creates barriers to entry, particularly for graduate students. Hence, we work with every researcher to make sure cost is not a barrier to accessing the Carnegie Community Engagement Dataset and we particularly encourage graduate students and junior scholars to use this and other datasets we offer.
Data Usage Policies and Procedures
We are equally committed to protecting the identity of institutions that opted to be part of our dataset. The following process to request and gain access to data was built to ensure confidentiality and proper handling of this dataset, and the sharing of the research outcomes with the field.
Usage Request Procedure
- Researcher/s completes a Data Usage Request and Research Agreement (“Data Request”)
- American Council on Education staff responds confirming receipt
- American Council on Education determines whether more information about the Data Request is needed. If more information about the Data Request is needed, American Council on Education will contact the researcher to request it. When appropriate, American Council on Education will offer feedback on the Data Request.
- If the Data Request is deemed to be appropriate for the purposes of the Carnegie Elective Classification dataset(s) and consistent with American Council on Education policies, a conversation (phone or video chat) will be set with the researcher to talk about data protection, privacy, and policies.
- American Council on Education confirms:
- data usage guidelines are met
- research methodology and data management plan protect privacy of campuses
- research question is relevant to the data and vice versa
- data required from the dataset is identified
- researcher/s agrees to provide information regarding dissemination of research and to credit Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education in publicly-presented research
- researcher/s shares approximate timeline of research project
- American Council on Education sends the Researcher/s the Data Usage Agreement to sign
- Researcher/s returns the signed Data Usage Agreement to sign and proof of IRB (or other research approval or reasonable request for exemption) to American Council on Education
- American Council on Education confirms receipt of the signed Data Usage Agreement to sign and provides an approximate timeline of when access to appropriate data set will be available
- American Council on Education assembles the appropriate data set
- American Council on Education shares the appropriate data set with the Researcher/s using Open Science Framework (OSF)
Maintenance of the License
- Researcher/s maintain mutually agreeable on-going interactions with American Council on Education to discuss research progress and relevant public-facing dissemination of research (conference presentations or posters, invited talks, proceedings, or publications) to ensure Data Usage Agreement to sign compliance.
- American Council on Education reviews research for compliance and confidentiality and offers any feedback. Any review(s) ensures that institution names and other identifiers are not included in public-facing deliverables, and not for editorializing findings or discussion. Review processes will be conducted within 10 business days. If there is no feedback, American Council on Education approves research for dissemination.
Conclusion of the License
- At the conclusion of the designated Data Request and Research Agreement project, American Council on Education and Researcher/s discuss data security and deletion protocol. Researcher/s signs attestation to destroying data and that no authorized duplication of the dataset(s) has been made.
- After the approval process and attestation of data deletion is complete, the license of the Data Usage Agreement to sign expires.
Copy of the Carnegie Elective Classifications Data Usage Policies and Procedures
Copy of the Carnegie Elective Classifications Data Usage Agreement
Please contact carnegie@acenet.edu with any questions.
Codebooks & Instruments
The following data will be available from multiple cycles of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. Our research team prepared these datasets for sharing and created codebooks to facilitate access to and analysis of the available variables.
2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Cycle:
- 2024 First Time Application Framework— Instrument linked here.
- 2024 Re-Classification Application framework — Instrument linked here.
2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Cycle:
- 2020 First-Time Application framework — Instrument linked here.
- 2020 Re-Classification Application framework — Instrument linked here.
2015 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Cycle:
- 2015 First-Time Application framework — Instrument linked here.
- 2015 First-Time Codebook linked here
- 2015 Re-Classification Application framework — Instrument linked here.
- 2015 Re-Classification Codebook linked here.
2010 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Cycle:
2008 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Cycle: