Carnegie says UH is Tier One

“Very high research activity”

Vilas Bhuchar, Jan 24, 11.

The University of Houston has been elevated to Tier One status by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, according to the Houston Business Journal.

The Carnegie classification, commonly regarded to be one of three indicators reflecting an institution’s rank as a Tier One university, is a significant step for UH to reach overall Tier One status, which would categorize the school as being involved in “very high research activity” and potentially lead to the recruitment of higher profile faculty and students and more research dollars, adds the story:

UH had sought after Tier One status for decades, according to Richard Bonnin, a spokesman for the university. However, the school made a renewed effort when Renu Khator began as university president three years ago.

Khator had previously predicted it would take five to seven years to reach Tier One status, according to the school.

The Carnegie Foundation classifies more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Fewer than 300 are classified as research universities. In its newly published classifications, it cites 109 universities for Top Tier designation, which means very high research activity. The Carnegie classification is commonly regarded to be one of three indicators that reflect an institution’s rank as a Tier One institution

Universities are reclassified about every five years. UH, which previously was in the “high research activity” category, now becomes the third public university in Texas in the top-tier research group, joining The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

UH faculty reported receiving more than $100 million in research grants last year, more than any of the state’s other emerging research universities. UH’s goal is $200 million by 2021.

Bonnin said the new classification will mean increased visibility that could lead to the recruitment of more high-profile faculty and students, lead to more research dollars and stimulate the Houston-area economy.

“I am so happy and so proud,” UH President Renu Khator said in a statement. “Our students – who today begin a new semester with this incredible news – can say with pride they are getting a Tier One education.”

The university will host a “Celebration of Excellence” event at 11 a.m., Jan. 28 at Cullen Performance Hall in recognition of the Tier One achievement.

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