The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability is an innovative initiative designed to recognize and celebrate higher education institutions that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and climate action as integral to their academic missions. This classification provides a rigorous framework for assessing and advancing sustainability efforts in curriculum, research, operations, and community engagement.
Why Sustainability Matters
Higher education institutions play a critical role in addressing global challenges, including climate change and resource sustainability. The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability highlights and supports institutional efforts to lead in these areas by fostering innovation, collaboration, and measurable progress toward a more sustainable future. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE) developed this classification to support thriving, sustainable communities for current and future generations. These efforts are culturally, regionally, and contextually informed.
Development Process
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability was developed through a thoughtful, inclusive process led by the Carnegie Foundation and ACE. The development process included:
- Initial feasibility study (2023): A comprehensive review of existing sustainability frameworks, expert interviews, and field research identified the need for a dedicated classification to recognize sustainability in higher education.
- Stakeholder engagement (2024): Through in-person meetings, virtual convenings, and surveys at major conferences, insights were gathered from sustainability leaders; institutional representatives from over 43 colleges and universities; and organizations such as the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, and This Is Planet Ed at the Aspen Institute.
- Pilot program (2025): A cohort of 20 diverse institutions representing minority serving institutions, community colleges, research universities, and liberal arts colleges is participating in a yearlong pilot program. This pilot will shape the framework, indicators, and application process for the classification.
Key Features of the Classification
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability aims to:
- Recognize excellence: Highlight institutions that integrate sustainability into their core academic missions and campus practices
- Encourage innovation: Foster creative solutions to sustainability challenges through research, teaching, and community engagement
- Promote access: Ensure accessibility for all institutions, including those with fewer resources, by offering adaptable criteria and support
- Foster collaboration: Build on existing frameworks, such as AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System, to align efforts and maximize impact
Next Steps
The pilot program commences in late January 2025 and will inform the final application and framework for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. The official application process for the classification is expected to launch in early 2026.
Request for Proposals for Administrative and Operational Host
The Carnegie Foundation—in collaboration with ACE—seeks proposals from qualified higher education institutions, organizations, or consortiums to serve as the administrative and operational host of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. This elective aims to recognize and catalyze substantive and transformational actions in sustainability across diverse higher education institutions. The host institution will play a pivotal role in the pilot phase launching in late January 2025, supporting framework development, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing program operations and administration, which includes participation in its conceptual framing and strategic development as well as managing, developing, and advancing this classification.
Acknowledgment of Sponsors
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability initiative is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Lumina Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the Gates Foundation.
We are deeply grateful for their commitment to advancing sustainability in higher education and their shared vision of fostering innovation, collaboration, and solutions-based action. Their support has been instrumental in shaping the development of the classification from the initial feasibility study through the pilot program.
These partnerships reflect a collective dedication to empowering institutions to address global challenges and create a more sustainable future for students, communities, and society.
We thank them for their unwavering support and leadership in this important endeavor.
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Contact Us
For questions about the Elective Classification for Sustainability, contact Marisol Morales at mmorales@acenet.edu.