Robust community partnerships bring national recognition for local institution

Robust community partnerships, strong civic initiatives, and mission-driven service efforts are key factors in AdventHealth University being named among an elite group of Florida universities to earn a Carnegie elective Classification for Community Engagement for the first time. The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized 237 higher education institutions with this classification, adding to the 40 colleges and universities classified in 2024.

“We are grateful to receive this honor, signifying our deep partnerships with communities in Denver, Tampa, and Orlando,” said C. Josef Ghosn, EdD, FACHE, president of AdventHealth University. “At AdventHealth University, our faculty, staff and students are committed to stewardship and service, and that includes assisting with community challenges and collaborating for the greater good.”

AdventHealth University is one of 14 colleges and universities in Florida and four in Colorado with this prestigious designation. This yields only five in Florida with two Carnegie classifications. In 2025, Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognized AdventHealth University as an Opportunity College and University: Higher Access, Higher Earnings for efforts to make a college education more accessible for students and to set graduates up with the competence and confidence for higher-paying careers.

The newest classification, which will be valid through 2032, is the result of a rigorous application process.

“This classification is a remarkable achievement, as AdventHealth University ranks among institutions of higher education with this distinguished designation,” said Kendra Presley, EMHA, CCEL, director of community and student engagement at AdventHealth University. “This is a testament to AHU’s dedication to weaving community engagement into the very fabric of the institution. It is also a clear message to current and prospective students as well as our alumni that AHU endeavors to see them be successful in their educational journey, their future careers, and the ways they will impact the community with whole-person education and whole-person care.”

AdventHealth University’s recent community engagement efforts include:

• Service learning built into graduation requirements for all students
• Occupational Therapy students serving at Wayne Densch Apartments, a multifamily development where apartments are rented to households that previously experienced homelessness
• Student food pantry
• American Red Cross of Central Florida award for Nursing Professor Dr. Sydney Moran
• Longtime Science Summer Camp at AHU for Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida
• Annual AHU Service Day

“Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors — fostering civic engagement, building useable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”