Nazareth’s deep community collaborations receive national recognition
Nazareth University’s Partners Programs — Partners for Learning, Partners for Serving, and Partners for Health — received the 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the largest and oldest publication defining and advancing best practices in higher education. The Civic Engagement and Community Service Award recognizes institutions’ innovative service and deep community collaboration in volunteerism, fundraising efforts for community causes, advocacy and public education, civic participation, voter engagement, and more.
Nazareth will be featured, along with 51 other programs, in the April 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.
“Nazareth’s Partners Programs reflect our belief that meaningful learning happens in partnership with our community,” said Emily Carpenter, Nazareth’s associate vice president for experiential impact. “As part of Nazareth’s experiential learning requirement in the core curriculum, these programs connect students with local organizations to address real challenges while developing the skills, awareness, and sense of purpose that will guide their lives and careers.”
Insight Into Academia magazine selected Nazareth’s Partners for Learning, Partners for Serving, and Partners for Health because these community-engaged student employment options connect college students with community organizations to advance community-defined challenges. These programs enable Nazareth students to get involved as tutors, mentors, and health and wellness advocates, distributing basic needs items and supporting community development. Through community partnerships that are reciprocal and of impact, Nazareth students learn from community professionals while contributing to positive change across the region. The programs emphasize personal and professional development guided by action and reflection. Open to all students regardless of major, the university leverages federal work-study and campus employment funding to compensate student participants, which enables greater access to this impactful work. Students who otherwise would need to work outside of their college experience can dedicate the time to learning and contributing through the Partners programs.
“Higher education has always been a driving force in societal progress.” says Holly Mendelson, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “These institutions remind us that the true measure of higher education lies not only in the degrees awarded, but in the lives they uplift. Their leadership strengthens communities, inspires students, and sets a standard of excellence for all.”
For more information about the 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
