Baylor, UT-SA receive country’s highest research classification – Houston Chronicle
Baylor University and University of Texas-San Antonio on Thursday attained Carnegie Tier One status, becoming the two latest higher education institutions in Texas to earn the country’s highest research classification, university leaders said.
The designation comes from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which classifies universities every three years by level of research activity. Tier One, or Research One, status means that a university partakes in the highest amount of research, meeting certain criteria for research expenditures, doctorates awarded and research staffing in science and engineering fields.
Baylor and UT-San Antonio will join several other Texas universities in the classification: UT-Austin, UT-Dallas, UT-Arlington, UT-El Paso, UT-San Antonio, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Houston, University of North Texas and Rice University.
“Through top-tier research, scholarship and external funding support, R1 universities – that now include Baylor University – bring their voice to bear in addressing our world’s most significant challenges,” Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone said in her weekly email newsletter. “And as a Christian research university, Baylor infuses the quest for solutions, at the highest levels, with the University’s distinct Christian voice and mission.”
UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken also applauded UT-SA’s announcement on Thursday.
“From the moment it was founded just more than 50 years ago, UTSA has been on the fast track to excellence,” Milliken said. “For a university this young to have achieved so much so quickly speaks to great leadership, quality faculty and a broad community of supporters who all share a vision for a forward-thinking university that values innovative research and all the good that comes from it.”
Universities generally seek Tier One status to make themselves more marketable, both to receive future grant money and to attract and potential employees and students.
The new classification is under a six-week public review before becoming official by the end of January 2022, Baylor spokeswomen said. Baylor also received the news three years sooner than planned, with its goal officially being 2024.
Baylor increased its research expenditures to $47 million this year from $29.4 million in 2017, according to the university. Research staff numbers and research doctorates awarded also increased.
UT=SA’s expenditures also increased over the same period, to $150 million this year from $68 million in 2017, according to the university.
