Carnegie Elective Classification
for Leadership for Public Purpose
Rice University's Doerr Institute, in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teachingand the American Council on Education (ACE), has established the Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose. View the full history of the partnership and Classification here.
What is leadership for public purpose?
Leadership for public purpose (LPP) is defined by a commitment to advancing the betterment of society and promoting the dignity and general welfare of all its members. LPP is reflected in coordinated institutional practices that enhance the development of ethical leadership capacity among all stakeholders in service of the collective public good. Further, LPP can be manifest in all realms of society, such as public and nonprofit institutions, neighborhood and community life, professional associations, private businesses, civil and government institutions, and religious organizations.
Institutions demonstrate commitment to effective leadership for public purpose in the learning, teaching, service, and research mission of their institution by:
- Embedding leadership for public purpose in the culture, structure, policies, and practices of the institution
- Cultivating the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective and ethical leadership in all institutional stakeholders
- Developing leaders to meet complex challenges in their careers, their communities, the broader society
- Advancing the scholarly understanding and professional practice of leadership for public purpose
- Measuring the impact of their efforts (individually, programmatically, and institutionally) toward developing leaders for public purpose
Apply for the 2027 Application Cycle
The Classification
The Carnegie Foundation's Elective Classifications require institutions to undergo a rigorous process of self-study from which they provide evidence of their institutional indicators including:
- Assessment of student learning
- Curricular and co-curricular offerings
- Faculty and staff rewards and contributions
- Mission statements
- Strategic plans
Institutions that demonstrate, through the evidence they provide, an extraordinary institutional commitment, receive the Carnegie Foundation's endorsement as a Classified Institution.
This Elective Classification will begin the process of creating an institutional and sector-level continuous improvement process, grounded in the identification and sharing of best practices in leadership education and development that can be transformative for higher education.
Application Prep Course: Demystifying Measurement in Leader Development
Preparing for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose? This online course offered by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders is designed specifically for higher education institutions looking to strengthen their assessment strategies. Demystifying Measurement will help your team build or refine the evidence-based measurement systems and methodologies essential for a successful Carnegie application. Whether you're starting from scratch or elevating existing efforts, this course gives you the practical tools and clarity you need to demonstrate institutional impact with confidence.
Learn more about Demystifying Measurement
Interested in The Classification?
Next Steps:
- Review application timeline and download the framework
- Join HigherLed, our consortium of higher education leaders, to learn more about the process and share best practices.
- Join our monthly Q&A session on Carnegie Elective Classification (see details in HigherLed).
Questions? Contact Carla Ortega Santori at Carla.Ortega.Santori@rice.edu