Carleton to participate in pilot Carnegie Elective Classification seeking to advance sustainability in higher education
Carleton has been selected as one of 21 institutions to participate in the pilot phase of a Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. As a participant, Carleton will pilot the elective and participate in community activities with the other pilot schools.
Carleton has been selected as one of 21 institutions to participate in the pilot phase of a Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. As a participant, Carleton will pilot the elective and participate in community activities with the other pilot schools. This participation draws from the College’s existing leadership in embedding sustainability and climate action into its core mission, and shapes the potential for accelerating the institutionalization of sustainability internationally across higher education.
The innovative classification, developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE), provides a comprehensive framework for assessing institutional efforts across curriculum, research, operations, community engagement, and workforce development, with an emphasis on preparing students for careers in sustainability fields. The Carnegie Foundation defines sustainability in higher education as a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that integrates environmental stewardship, resilience and adaptation, and societal well-being.
“With the recent launch of our new Sustainable Futures framework, Carleton is in a good position to participate in this innovative pilot program,” President Alison Byerly said. “We look forward to working with the Carnegie Foundation and ACE to pilot a classification system that will allow schools to better assess their progress in deepening their own sustainability efforts.”
The pilot program includes 21 institutions from across the United States and Puerto Rico, representing a wide variety of institutional types, including Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI), community colleges, rural campuses, research universities, and liberal arts colleges. These institutions will help refine the classification’s criteria and indicators of sustainability, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for institutions of all types and sizes.
Participating institutions will engage in a rigorous self-assessment process to showcase achievements, set strategic goals for continuous improvement, and share best practices within the higher education sector. Insights from the pilot will inform the development of the official Sustainability Elective Classification, slated for launch in early 2026.
“This pilot program marks an important step forward in recognizing the essential role higher education plays in advancing sustainability,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “The participating institutions are leading the way in addressing the global challenges of our time.”
“ACE is proud to partner with the Carnegie Foundation on this critical initiative,” said Ted Mitchell, president of ACE. “The Sustainability Elective Classification will help colleges and universities demonstrate their leadership and innovation in advancing sustainability across all aspects of their missions.”
The Sustainability Elective Classification joins a distinguished suite of Carnegie Elective Classifications, including Community Engagement and Leadership for Public Purpose. This initiative highlights higher education’s transformative role in addressing societal challenges and creating sustainable futures.
For more information about Carleton’s involvement in the pilot program, visit the Carnegie Elective Classifications website.
About Carleton College
Consistently ranked among the nation’s top liberal arts institutions, Carleton is a private college of about 2,000 students located in Northfield, Minnesota, just 45 minutes south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Nationally recognized as the nation’s top college for undergraduate teaching, Carleton is known for its academic rigor, intellectual curiosity, and sense of humor. Carleton offers 33 majors and 40 minors in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. Learn more about Carleton on the College website.
About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in education, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.
About the American Council on Education (ACE)
ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member institutions, ACE drives solutions for today’s challenges, advances public policy, and shapes the higher education sector to serve a diverse student population. Learn more acenet.edu or follow ACE on X (formerly Twitter) @ACEducation.
Erica Helgerud ’20 is the news and social media manager for Carleton College.