On Feb. 13, President Scott Green announced that the University of Idaho has officially achieved Carnegie Research Level 1 institution, becoming the first in the state of Idaho. This is an incredible step forward for the university, but students want to know how this will impact them.
To become an R1 institution, UI had to reach $50 million spent on research and grant 70 research doctorates per year. Last year, UI awarded 80 research doctorates and spent an incredible $135.9 million on research expenditures.
Some students have expressed concerns that becoming an R1 institute will raise tuition prices. However, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief—a study by Justin Callais and Kerianne Lawson found that there is not a significant increase in tuition after getting R1 status.
This study also showed that R1 status does not cause a significant increase in student enrollment. However, it can increase the number applications to the university.
This can be attributed to the fact that students consider university prestige and funding when applying to a school.
For us here at UI, we can expect a slight increase in students applying to UI next year but the same amount of incoming freshman in the fall. We should also not expect a jump in tuition as a result of the R1 status.
However, UI can expect to start receiving more federal grants for research. This will allow for more undergraduate and graduate students to participate in research. Undergraduate research opportunities are something that prospective students take into account when choosing a university.
Also, student research is something that employers, grad schools and others hold in high regard. The more students participate in research, the better career prospects they will have.
As UI gains more national and international recognition and prestige, students will benefit from the ensuing donations, grants and larger student body.
Ash Moghadam, a third-year Architecture student, commented on the new status.
“Every student, affected or not by the recent achievement of the R1 status, must feel pride and excitement… Reaching higher status showcases that as a university we strive to…take steps toward reaching new grounds, be it in the fields of research, environmental stability [or] overall academic quality,” Moghadam said.
One of the reasons UI pushed so hard to get R1 status is that it is an important part of their Vision 2050 long-term development plan.
With Vision 2050, UI plans to expand and renew campus over the next 25 years. This will include renovations, new medical education buildings and increasing walkability.
However, to attract the donors and students necessary to sustain the effort, the Carnegie R1 designation is very helpful. R1 status will allow UI to start getting grants for research that the university did not have access to before.
Also, R1 status shows the Idaho State Board of Education that UI can not only set high goals but achieve them, too. This will help prove to the Board that UI can execute their Vision 2050 plan, which still needs state approval.
Carnegie R1 status will improve the lives of current Vandals and future Vandals. As students of UI, we should be proud of achieving this classification.
Christopher Sprague can be reached at [email protected].