Penn State is committed to interdisciplinary scholarship and cross-institutional collaboration, holding membership in a number of academic and research consortia, professional societies, and educational networks. In many cases, Penn State Outreach serves as the University’s representative and point of communication for these groups, which include:
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU®)
APLU is a community of education leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. The association’s membership consists of more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations. The association and its members collectively focus on increasing student success and workforce readiness, promoting pathbreaking scientific research, and bolstering economic and community engagement.
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education®—Elective Classification for Community Engagement
The Carnegie Classification® is the nation’s leading framework for categorizing diverse US higher education institutions. Penn State received Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2008 and 2015 in recognition of its deep commitment to fostering engagement with communities in Pennsylvania and beyond. We are hopeful Penn State’s most recent reclassification application will be approved in January 2026.
Learn more about the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (CUPSO)
CUPSO functions as a community of practice for “pracademics”—university-based staff and faculty who conduct applied research, offer professional education, or provide various services and technical assistance to state agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners. CUPSO has created a network of peers who offer support, encouragement, and ideas for addressing challenges and enhancing services.
Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC)
Penn State, along with Ohio State and Wisconsin, co-founded ESC in 2001 as a testament to the value of working collaboratively to build strong university-community partnerships anchored in the rigor of scholarship and designed to help build community capacity. Since the ESC’s inception, Penn State has served on its Executive Leadership Committee, hosted the national conference three times, and received one of the organization’s highest honors—the Ryan, Moser, Reilly Award for Excellence in Community Engagement Institutional Leadership.