UNLV has earned the highest status among U.S. research institutions under the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education.
The coveted R1 designation, which reflects what Carnegie calls “very high research activity,” comes following the years-long, campuswide Top Tier Initiative at UNLV.
“I’m so happy for the validation that our gives our really hardworking faculty and stuff,” acting UNLV President Marta Meana told State of Nevada.
Carnegie’s judging criteria for research efforts were recently changed, and now give UNLV the R1 categorization, given to universities that have reached $5 million in total research expenditures and awarded at least 20 research and scholarship doctoral degrees.
Meana said the recognition could allow UNLV to recruit better professors and students and bring more dollars to campus.
“It gives you a certain credibility that makes granting agencies consider you differently,” she said. “It’s a huge facilitator for us.”
Only 120 institutions across the nation received the R1 designation, and UNLV is the only one from Nevada.
Marta Meana, president, UNLV