ASHOKA U | CHANGEMAKER CAMPUS RENEWAL

Renewal Process Overview

Updated as of Fall 2025

SUMMARY OF RENEWAL PROCESS | Required and optional components

  1. Renewal Invitation. At its discretion, based on Changemaker Campus (CMC) alignment with and engagement in the network, and in conversation with the CMC, Ashoka U invites the CMC to renew.
  2. CMC Acceptance & Payment. CMC commits to participate, selects a submission date, and submits initial payment within 30 days of its submission deadline (fee is non-refundable). 
  3. Renewal Strategy Kickoff (OPTIONAL). CMC engages in a planning session with Ashoka U to strategize on how to leverage Renewal to advance institution-specific priorities and plans (optional, at CMC request).
  4. CMC Renewal Application Completion. CMC completes Renewal Application by the submission deadline to demonstrate its alignment with CMC criteria, impact, and ongoing commitment to social innovation and changemaker education and partnering with Ashoka U and the network.
  5. Review & Evaluation.  A team of peer reviewers from the Changemaker Campus network reviews the submission in collaboration with Ashoka U. Possible outcomes include: 
    • Immediate Renewal (Fast Track) – CMC is immediately renewed based on evidence of continued alignment with criteria and commitment to advancing its institutional ecosystem and partnering with Ashoka U and the network. 
    • Targeted Review (Normal Track) – Review of targeted areas for additional evidence or improvement; includes a virtual site visit.
    • Capacity-building Opportunity (Comprehensive Track) – based on the outcome of the review and the needs of the campus, a capacity-building opportunity will be available for either remediation or transformation. The CMC is invited to commit to a plan of action and follow up with a brief update report to demonstrate improvement in any major areas of concern/interest as sufficient evidence of institutional alignment and long-term commitment. 
    • Immediate Non-renewal – CMC does not pass Renewal and is no longer an active CMC based on an obvious and likely irreconcilable misalignment of values/leadership/programming. 
  6. Renewal Evaluation Report. Ashoka U provides a brief evaluation report to the CMC highlighting strengths and opportunities and access to any other CMC Renewal submissions authorized for sharing. 
  7. Final Renewal Debrief (OPTIONAL). Ashoka U and CMC conduct a one-hour Renewal debrief and advising session with Change Leaders and Senior Leaders (optional, at CMC request).
[1]The Renewal fees cover the costs of providing the Renewal service and are therefore non-refundable, irrespective of the outcome.

RENEWAL CRITERIA, COST, & TIMING 

CMC Evaluation Criteria
  • The Changemaker Campus criteria can be accessed here. 
  • A copy of the Renewal Application is here.
Timelines
  • Ashoka U anticipates that Renewal could be as short as three months following submission of Renewal Application.
  • Assuming a CMC continues to meet the criteria and is committed to partnership with Ashoka U and the network, it will be automatically renewed.
Cost
  • Fixed price of $6,000 USD for all participating CMCs with flexible payment options. (This is equivalent to the fast-track price of the previous Renewal process.)
  • Additional fees may include:
    • $1500 USD Virtual Site Visit  
    • $4000 USD Consultative / Capacity-building 
    • Travel costs for in-person site visits  
Payment Options
  • Upon commitment to Renewal, the CMC will be issued an invoice.
  • Initial payment is due 30-days prior to the institution’s submission deadline and is non-refundable regardless of Renewal outcome.
  • Ashoka U invites renewing campuses to pay renewal fees in any of the following ways: 
    • 100% in current FY 
    • 50% in current FY and remainder in next FY
    • In four equal installments in this FY and next 3 FYs 

 

RENEWAL TRACK PATHWAYS

Renewal Track

Reason(s) for Track

Campus Inputs

Renewal Outputs
Fast Track Minimum renewal processes for all campuses
  • Initial application
  • Renewal Committee Report
  • Customized Action Plan for 2026-2030 including Ashoka-Campus Engagement
  • Renewal Debrief (optional)
Normal Track Targeted areas for additional evidence or improvement
  • Initial application
  • Virtual Site Visit
  • Additional reporting as needed
  • Renewal Committee Report
  • Customized Action Plan for 2026-2030 including Ashoka-Campus Engagement
  • Renewal Debrief (optional)
Comprehensive Track Significant areas requiring additional evidence or improvement
  • Initial application
  • Two-day, In-person Site Visit 
  • Additional reporting as needed
  • Renewal Committee Report
  • Mentoring and/or Capacity-building Strategy
  • Customized Action Plan for 2026-2030 including Ashoka-Campus Engagement
  • Renewal Debrief (optional)

 

Benefits

What are the benefits of the Changemaker Campus designation and its renewal?

What is the Value Proposition?

The renewal of 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 fully integrates changemaking across campus. It signals that the campus embraces 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) 
  • improved quality of faculty and staff though attracting higher-caliber applicants

A Changemaker Campus belongs to a select network of global leaders at the intersection of changemaking, social innovation, and higher education. 

A recent report found important benefits for students, faculty, and staff at Changemaker Campuses.

Student Benefits

  • Changemaker students are more likely to report that they have developed creative, critical, and systems thinking skills
  • Changemaker students are more likely to report that they have developed empathy, purpose, and resilience.
  • The vast majority of changemaker students, compared to non-changemaker students, agree or strongly agree that their university/college experience has prepared them well for their future career.

Faculty and Staff Benefits

  • The majority of faculty/staff at Changemaker Campuses report that due to its “Changemaker Campus," designation their university/college has further developed its culture of changemaking throughout the whole organization.
  • The majority of faculty/staff at Changemaker Campuses reported that their university has connected with other organizations that are important to its work through the Ashoka U network.
  • The majority of faculty/staff at Changemaker Campuses said their university/college attained or increased its reputation as an accredited leader in changemaking through this designation.
  • The majority of faculty/staff at Changemaker Campuses said their university/college demonstrated leadership by serving as a role model in changemaking in higher education through having and maintaining this designation.