Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.

-The Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement

As a land grant university, CSU is strategically positioned for applied and community-engaged research​.

• CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension (OEE) actively builds partnerships to empower communities and drive positive change through collaboration and shared knowledge.
• As a free public offering of a university system, CSU Spur strives to connect urban and rural communities by bringing awareness and appreciation of the food system, water, and health to a broad audience, engaging the next generation in various careers, and creating innovation to serve rural communities.

Industry partners play a crucial role in innovation as they take research and development advancements—often born at universities—and bring them into everyday life. As government funding priorities shift, bolstering CSU’s University-Industry (U-I) partnerships is one avenue to creating a resilient research enterprise.

• CSU’s University Partnership Program is a centralized front door for industry engagement designed to expand revenue opportunities and streamline collaboration with corporate, government, and community partners.
• University Advancement’s Corporate Relations Office specializes in helping organizations strategically invest in CSU through targeted philanthropy, sponsorships, and programmatic support.
• Launching Public-Private Research Consortia: An Overview and Panel Discussion CSU meeting recording (May 2025)

CSU is a member of the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), an organization where representatives from top-tier innovation companies and world-class research universities meet and commit to active participation in pursuit of excellence in U-I collaboration and partnership.

To access the below UIDP U-I partnership resources, use your NetID to complete your UIDP registration.

• Benefits and Challenges of Working Across Sectors UIDP webinar
• Government Increased Interest in U-I Collaborations UIDP webinar
• Basic Budgeting Strategies for Industry Agreements UIDP webinar
• Five Ways to Nail Industry Presentations UIDP webinar
• Establishing Contacts with Industry and Academia UIDP webinar
• Views from Academic and Corporate Leadership on U-I Partnerships UIDP webinar
• Opportunities and Challenges of Engaging Students in Industry-Sponsored Research UIDP webinar
• Managing Expectations and Creating Long-Term Relationships UIDP webinar
• Managing Intellectual Property Issues UIDP webinar
• Contracting and Compliance UIDP webinar

Many CSU entities are involved in IP and commercialization, including but not limited to the following:

• CSU STRATA supports and serves the campuses and affiliates of the CSU System through intellectual property management and technology transfer services; special project oversight; strategic real estate management and project development services; as well as operational management of regional, state, national, and international assets.
• The Ag Innovation Center supports startups and corporations in centering the voice of Colorado’s farmers as they design next-gen technologies and business models to support agricultural infrastructure.
• The Energy Institute bundles and delivers a suite of programs aimed at helping CSU faculty and students commercialize technologies and start companies in the cleantech space.

Remember to work with the Office of Sponsored Programs as you navigate university policies on IP, copyrights, and patents!

• The Institute for Entrepreneurship (I4E) is a hub for innovation, taking a zero-barriers approach to entrepreneurship by offering free programming to all CSU affiliates and Colorado community members.
• I4E’s three-stage Venture Development Pathway prepares learners to bring their ideas to market successfully.

• The Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) helps students, faculty, and staff use research-based learning and teaching methods to support academic achievement, equity, and post-graduation success for all CSU students.
• Within TILT, the Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry (OURA) connects undergraduate students to research and artistry opportunities, where students can participate in a mentored investigation or creative inquiry that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.
• The Career Center supports and equips CSU students and alum to discover and pursue their goals by honoring their identities and experiences, challenging systemic barriers, and intentionally engaging with campus partners and employers.
• Within CSU’s Graduate School, the Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring (GCIM) works to improve the mentoring culture at CSU to ultimately elevate the personal and professional success of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

• For CSU faculty engaging in teaching, learning, research, and scholarly initiatives with partners worldwide, the OVPR provides Resources for International Collaborations, including best practices for disclosing international relationships and collaborative activities, guidance for high-risk travel, and export control information.
• CSU’s Office of International Programs (OIP) supports CSU departments in developing and sustaining positive relationships with institutions around the world. OIP can assist researchers with strategic positioning: aligning goals, objectives, capabilities, student engagement, and more. OIP’s interactive map shows active international agreements and partnerships.

CSU has over 150 specialized units, some that operate under departmental affiliation and other Centers, Institutes, and Other Special Units (CIOSUs) that extend beyond a single department. The following Centers and Institutes operate in full or partial affiliation with the OVPR.

• Center for Healthy Aging
• Energy Institute
• Data Science Research Institute
• Infectious Disease Research Center
• One Health Institute

College Affiliated

• College of Agricultural Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Health and Human Sciences
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Natural Sciences
• College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
• Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
• Warner College of Natural Resources

CSU Research Development Ecosystem Partner Quick Links

• Office of Research Analytics
• Office of Defense Engagement
• Office of Sponsored Programs
• VPR Office of Advancement
• Office of Corporate Engagement
• Foundation Relations
• Corporate University Partnerships Program