2025-2026 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING INDEX
Foreword A message from the executive director
We are pleased to present the 2025-2026 edition of the Michigan State University Community-Engaged Learning Index. This publication celebrates the many ways Spartans learn with and alongside communities—applying knowledge, building reciprocal partnerships, mobilizing collective action, and preparing to lead lives of purpose, service, and impact.
Read the forewordCommunity-Engaged Learning by the Numbers
Read More26,187
student community-engaged learning registrations
Academic
Community-Engaged Learning
Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, the Michigan State University Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) Academic Programs Team continued to strengthen and expand support for faculty, academic staff, and instructors interested in integrating community-engaged learning into their courses.
Read More
Beyond-the-Classroom
Community-Engaged Learning
During the 2025–2026 academic year, MSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning registered 15,816 students for service initiatives like tutoring, hospital volunteering, and local cleanup events. Overall, the programs generated over $1 million in combined financial impact while recognizing 154 standout student volunteers.
Read More
College and
Program Features
Michigan State University's community engagement efforts extend across diverse academic disciplines, enabling students to address real-world challenges while developing key professional skills. Through hands-on initiatives—ranging from optimizing food bank supply chains and providing volunteer tax services to managing crisis hotlines and hosting educational events—Spartans actively foster strong local partnerships and generate meaningful social impact.
Read More
Center for Community
Engaged Learning Highlights
In 2025–2026, Michigan State University was ranked No. 1 among public universities for service-learning. Highlights included celebrating ten years of the Community Engagement Scholars Program, securing over $56,000 in tax refunds for local residents, and earning prestigious national awards from Campus Compact.
Read MoreCredits | Catherine Anger, Stephanie Brewer, Renee Miller-Zientek, Sam Rothwell, and Michelle Snitgen, Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) | Mike Davis, Ghada Georgis, Patricia Mish, and Brad Smith, Communication and Information Technology, University Outreach and Engagement | Additional contributors: Tina Houghton and K.C. Keyton, CCEL.