After my last post, I received some questions on the difference between Research 1 (R1) and Tier 1 universities. R1 status is formally defined in the Carnegie Classification as Doctoral universities: very high research activity. As for a Tier 1 definition, a 2004 interim report of the Texas Senate Finance Committee explains that: "Tier 1 status is not formally defined, but is intended to reflect excellence at an institution of higher education. Common characteristics of Tier 1 institutions include: high research expenditures and a large number doctoral degrees awarded in various fields. Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes urged the Legislature to define Tier 1 broadly and in a way that makes the most sense for the greatest number of institutions in Texas."
The Texas Research Alliance admits that: "There is no official federal system to designate National “tier 1” institutions. However, The Center for Measuring University Performance creates an annual report of the Top American Research Universities that are typically considered nationally “Tier 1” in the higher education field. HB 51 in 2009 established programs to increase the amount of Tier 1 institutions in Texas."
The interested reader can find an overview of HB 51 in the 81st Texas legislature here. Key points include requiring long-term strategic plans for each research and emerging research university and establishing funding criteria as well as incentive grants for excellence programs at universities. Three funding streams were established:
- Research University Development Fund
- Performance Incentive Funding (allocated in proportion to the increase in the average number of degrees awarded in the two most recent fiscal years compared to the previous two fiscal years and in proportion to the average number of degrees awarded by each institution)
- Texas Research Incentive Program (matching a certain percentage of gifts received by an emerging research university)
Further, the National Research University Fund "provides funding to emerging research universities that meet critical benchmarks for achieving national research university criteria such as certain levels of endowments, certain numbers of Ph.D. degrees awarded, etc."
The University of Houston explains Tier One designation in its Tier One FAQs: "“Tier One,” “Top Tier” and “Nationally Competitive Research University” are terms used interchangeably to refer to universities known for world-class research, academic excellence, an exceptional student body, and the highest levels of innovation, creativity and scholarship. Because of these accomplishments, these universities enjoy a national “brand,” recognition and prestige."
Further, "Within the academic community, there are three organizations that are generally accepted as national arbiters of an institution’s rank as a Tier One institution. They are the Association of American Universities [AAU], the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Center for Measuring University Performance, which issues Top American Research University (TARU) reports. Recognition by any of these three is taken as an indication of Tier One status." (Looking at the list of AAU members, I couldn't find one that was not R1 but I may have missed it. I still have to analyze the TARU reports. The top institutions may be also R1. Note that I found SMU in several of the data tables! Hopefully I'll find the time to write a blog post about that soon. But unfortunately not today.)
Back in 2016, the Texas Tribune equated the Carnegie Classification Research One (R1) with Tier One (T1) status. Baylor also, in its own FAQs about R1/T1, sounds like it believes Carnegie's R1 is interchangeable with Tier-1 status. Its other answers to the FAQs are excellent, especially "how does a research focus fit with Baylor's historic strengths in classroom teaching?" I'll let you read the full answer on the website, but here is an excerpt: "High-level research enhances the classroom experience by providing students with cutting-edge, real-world examples that advance knowledge in the very disciplines they study. As students are equipped by Baylor faculty with foundational understanding in their chosen field, research opportunities provide meaningful applications to invigorate and advance that knowledge."
I'll leave my readers with wise words I found in the UH's Tier One FAQs: "Texas has lagged behind other states in the number of Tier One universities – California has nine, New York seven, for example. Increasing the number of Tier One institutions allows Texas to compete more successfully for the best and brightest students and faculty, to spur economic growth, to sustain an educated workforce and attract innovative research."
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