Leadership For Public Purpose Classification

Leadership for Public Purpose Classification FAQ

Which campuses are eligible to apply?

To determine whether your campus is eligible to apply, search for your institution using the Institution Search page. If your campus is listed, then you are eligible to apply for the Leadership for Public Purpose Classification.

Do branch campuses need to apply together or individually?

There are a number of campuses that have one Basic Classification and multiple branch campuses. Branch campuses that have a history of being an independent institution, have distinct local leadership, and a distinct student body and community within which and with whom they partner, can apply for the classification separate from the overall institution, even when the branch campus does not have a “Basic” classification, provided that the institution does have a Basic Classification. In these cases, please consult our updated policy: Eligibility for Applying for the Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification (April 18, 2018).

How can we access the online application?

Access to the application will be available on GivePulse starting March 27, 2022. Institutional representatives will be prompted to select an application type (first-time or re-classification) and then directed to a payment page. After the payment is complete, an email receipt will be generated and will include a unique link to the classification framework application portal. There, you will be able to complete the application and save your progress as a draft.

The application fee covers the cost of the classification administration and maintaining access to Carnegie classification datasets.

After your institution has registered for the application, your registrant can access the application by: 

Can campuses apply for a fee waiver?

The Classification is intended to invite wide participation and not exclude any campus from participating because of inability to cover the application fee. If your campus is interested in requesting a waiver, please email Carla Ortega Santori at Carla.Ortega.Santori@rice.edu.

Is there a deadline to access the online application?

Applications for the 2024 cycle must be initiated by August 31, 2023.

Are web links (i.e., URLs) permitted in responses to application questions?

Web links will NOT be accepted as valid supporting documentation (i.e., reviewers will not be able to open links included in the application). Instead, when relevant, applicants should copy and paste text from websites and include that information as part of application responses, where appropriate.

Does the Documentation Framework list all of the questions that appear in the official online application?

Yes. The Documentation Framework comprises a list of all questions that appear in the application. There is also an accompanying guide that includes more thorough descriptions of the purpose of certain questions and the type of information that is expected in applicants’ responses.  It is strongly recommended that institutions use this framework for collecting data and drafting responses to the application questions. Transferring responses from the framework to the online application and then submitting it should be the last steps in the application process.

Can an applicant “click through” the pages of the online application to review all of the questions?

Yes. Applicants can view the application sections, finish parts of the applications, save drafts, and come back to it later as needed.

Can an applicant save an unfinished online application and then return to it at a later time?

Yes. Applicants that have created an account on GivePulse may save drafts of the online application and then edit and/or continue later. You will need to log in to retain access to the online application and save it in draft mode. As a GivePulse user, your role as a “Collaborator” on the platform will allow you to see that the application is automatically saving your work as you go. If you forget your password, you can easily reset it.

Who should be responsible for submitting the online application?

Though the process of compiling responses to the application questions will likely involve many individuals from the applicant institution, it is strongly recommended that only one person be responsible for filling out and submitting the online application itself. You will be able to add collaborators that will have access to the application under the “Collaborators” tab. However, the individual listed in the “Applicant’s Contact Information” section of the application should be the same individual who submits the application.

Are application responses limited to a certain number of words?

Yes. Application questions require responses that do not exceed 500 words and the text boxes will not allow for more than the word limit. You will find a word count calculator under each text box in the online framework. If a response provided by an applicant exceeds the word limit, the online application software will only submit the maximum number of words allowed for that question, resulting in an incomplete response.

Are paragraph divisions (i.e., hard returns) counted as words in the online application?

No. Paragraph marks in a response are not treated as a word in the word count limit.

Can applicants include formatted text in response boxes on the application?

The response boxes in the application only accept non-formatted text (i.e., no font enhancements, such as bolding, italicizing, or underlining, and no tables). In addition, the response boxes have not allowed embedded hyperlinks.  

How are applications reviewed?

Multiple reviewers will be evaluating each application in its entirety. Reviewers will be selected and trained rigorously to effectively evaluate all the evidence provided by institutions. Reviewers will need to reach a consensus to determine if each applicant institution will receive the classification. In the case where a consensus is not reached, members of the National Review Board will evaluate and deliberate.

Are applicants required to answer all questions on the application?

It is not advisable to leave any sections blank. If you cannot respond by providing evidence, explain why the evidence does not exist and what the campus is doing to be able to provide the evidence in the future.

Whom should applicants contact for technical or content-related questions about the Elective Classification for Community Engagement application?

General inquiries regarding the application process and for immediate assistance with technical issues, or guidance related to application content, please contact Carla Ortega Santori at Carla.Ortega.Santori@rice.edu.

Whom should applicants contact to receive a copy of the link to the online application?

The online form through GivePulse is the ONLY allowable means by which to submit your institution’s classification application responses.

After your institution has registered for the application, your registrant can access the application by: 

What is your refund policy?

Campuses that wish to withdraw their participation in the 2024 process can submit a refund request on or before October 15, 2023.  No refunds will be processed after October 15, 2023. To request a refund, please send an email to Carla Ortega Santori at Carla.Ortega.Santori@rice.edu. 

When is the 2024 Leadership for Public Purpose Classification application due?

The deadline for submitting the application for the 2024 Leadership for Public Purpose Classification is December 2023.

When will the results of the 2024 application process be announced? The results of the 2024 Leadership for Public Purpose Classification application process will be announced in Spring 2024. Only those institutions that receive the classification will be announced. Institutions that are not classified during this cycle are notified privately.