Changemaker Campus

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Changemaker Campus designation?

The Changemaker Campus designation is the world’s leading designation for social innovation. 
It recognizes campuses that are leading the way and pushing boundaries about the role of higher education in society: graduating millions of changemakers, leading societal impact initiatives, and re-imaging what higher education looks like in a world where the only constant is change. 
Changemaker Campuses demonstrate excellence and innovation in: 

  • Visionary Leadership 
  • Innovation and Excellence in Changemaking  
  • Institutional Culture and Operations 
  • Institutional Field Building and Impact Influence 

Examples and lessons learned from these campuses are highlighted in Ashoka U publications. 

What are the benefits of the Changemaker Campus designation?

The Changemaker Campus designation is a signal to students, parents, faculty, alumni, and the world that a campus is dedicated to changemaking and that the campus has fully integrated changemaking across campus. It signals that the campus has embraced social innovation as a framework for education as well as for institutional operations, culture, and change. 
Changemaker Campuses have reported that this designation has: 

  • increased enrollment rates 
  • attracted and secured major funding (grants, gifts) 
  • led to students becoming better-prepared for changemaking 

Becoming a Changemaker Campus brings the institution into a select network of global leaders at the intersection of changemaking, social innovation, and higher education.  
 

Is Ashoka designating new Changemaker Campuses?

Yes! After a strategic pause, Ashoka U is once again designating Changemaker Campuses. 
This designation remains an important tool for campuses to highlight their innovations and dedications to leading societal impact.  
This designation provides a way to recognize important innovations in higher education and to demonstrate the future potential of higher education in a world that is volatile, ambiguous, complex, and uncertain. 

Learn more about the process.

Contact us at ashokau [@] ashoka.org for more information.

How can my campus prepare to become a Changemaker Campus?

View the full criteria. 

Host an Ashoka U Workshop on your campus. Topics include:

Promising practices and lessons learned have been collected and shared in our many open-access Ashoka U publications. It is recommended that you read and share these publications. Becoming A Changemaker Campus (2020) provides a comprehensive overview of how to engage leadership, faculty, students, and others in the journey of becoming a Changemaker Campus.  

    How can my campus start the process of becoming designated as a Changemaker Campus?

    We are thrilled your campus is interested in becoming an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus!

    Learn more about the designation process here.

    Review the criteria here.

    Contact us at: ashokau [@] ashoka.org.