Bennett College has earned the prestigious Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, becoming one of the first 14 institutions nationally to receive the new designation through the 2025 pilot program.
Hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability recognizes institutions that demonstrate a comprehensive approach to sustainability. The classification considers how sustainability is integrated across curriculum, research, operations, career preparation, and community engagement.
Bennett College participated in the 2025 pilot program, joining 19 other diverse colleges and universities in a yearlong process to test and help shape the new classification. As a pilot institution, Bennett completed a collaborative self-study, tested the classification’s framework and evidence requirements, and provided feedback to help inform the final application and review process.
The College’s participation contributed to the development of a national framework designed to recognize sustainability across higher education, including the work of minority-serving institutions.
The 14 pilot institutions will form part of the inaugural cohort of classified institutions, which will be announced in June 2027 alongside institutions participating in the first full classification cycle. Institutions receiving the classification will retain it for six years, through 2033.
For Bennett College, this designation is an opportunity to continue advancing sustainability through the collective work of its students, faculty, staff, and community.
We are committed to preparing women to learn, lead, and contribute to a more sustainable future!
