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  • Race to R1: An Analysis of Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) Potential to Reach Research 1 Carnegie Classification® (R1) Status
Title: Race to R1: An Analysis of Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) Potential to Reach Research 1 Carnegie Classification® (R1) Status
Since 1973, the Carnegie Classification® has been the guiding framework for determining which U.S.-based higher education institutions are considered the top in the country. The complex and multi-layered calculation gives institutions the designation of labeled research one (R1) or research two (R2) institutions, requiring institutions to grant doctoral degrees. These designations are pivotal in determining which institutions obtain high-quality resources through ongoing decisions by many organizations, including federal agencies, private sector organizations, and philanthropists. Additionally, the designations are instrumental in crucial policy decisions that have the future, mobility, and overall sustainability of operations within institutions, including its various stakeholders (i.e., faculty, staff, and students) at its core. As of 2023, while none of the nation’s 101 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have received the highest designation of R1 status, 11 hold the status of R2. Notably, over the past decade, several of those 11 institutions have made obtaining R1 status a top priority for their organization, with many embedding the goal in their critical strategic plans or key initiatives within their leadership teams’ organizational priorities. Despite such efforts, an integral ingredient to achieving R1 status – leadership – is under-researched in the field. Thus, our study aims to acknowledge the vital role of transformational and distributed leadership within HBCUs and their broader stakeholder community in achieving their goal of reaching R1 status. The goal of this research study is to (1) conduct an analysis of data available within the Carnegie Classification®, (2) provide a thorough review of the literature surrounding this phenomenon, (3) explain the role of engineering-related expenditures and engineering education within this phenomenon, (4) ascertain the capabilities of the institutional leadership and motivations towards R1 status, and (5) use that information, all inclusively, to determine who will be the first of the eleven R2 and three R3 HBCUs to receive the R1 designation. Thus, the research questions guiding this study are: (1) Which historically black college and/or university (HBCU) is most likely to obtain Carnegie Classification® R1: doctoral universities – very high research activity status first? (2) How do engineering-related expenditures and education impact or influence HBCUs' Research 1 status potential? Results explain which of the 14 R2 and R2 HBCUs will be the first and most likely to obtain the designation for the upcoming results and why. Implications for this research study and its results, recommendations for future research, and a concluding statement are provided.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1923229 2344234
PAR ID:
10566338
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
ASEE Conferences
Date Published:
Format(s):
Medium: X
Location:
Portland, Oregon
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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