Latest news with #CarnegieClassification
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marva Johnson is the right choice for Florida A&M University
Much has been written and said about Florida A&M University's new President-elect, Marva Johnson, and as a former board of trustee member appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush, let us put everything in the proper perspective. First, every governor has exerted influence in the selection of university presidents, some more than others, and governors have an obligation to because higher education is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Second, Florida university presidents are not academicians anymore, with a few exceptions, but politicians, former politicians, and friends of politicians. To lament that is to ignore the fact that Florida has been the No. 1 university system in the country for some time now. Third, university presidents do not run the university; they have a provost for that, along with a COO and a CFO, and a host of other administrators. Fourth, the best Florida presidents know how to walk the halls of the legislature to secure new buildings, classrooms, residence halls, and use their insightful understanding of the appropriations and legislative process to bring home the millions needed to succeed. They also know that they must work with their board of trustees, the Board of Governors, and the governor. FAMU is special not only because it is the only public HBCU in Florida, but also because it has special programs that graduates more minorities than any other HBCU in the country, and most are first-time college students. The College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, is highly reputed, and its School of Business & Industry has been a trendsetter for decades, and corporate America recruits heavily from the SBI. FAMU again has been designated, for the sixth consecutive year, the No. 1 public HBCU in the nation, and the third best among both public and private HBCUs. FAMU also just achieved a very high honor when it earned dual recognition in the 2025 Carnegie Classification as both a Research 2 University and an Opportunity College and University, an outstanding accomplishment despite FAMU being historically disrespected and discriminated against, which has only made the university stronger and better. Fifth, no president of any university has ever 'dismantled' a university, and FAMU will not become the first one, as that is just overheated hyperbole and plain hogwash. Johnson, whom I have met on several occasions over the years, has all the tools to be a highly successful university president, and frankly, FAMU is quite lucky to have someone with her talents, connections, and lobbying experience, and the support of the legislature, Board of Governors, and the governor. Her appointment portends well that FAMU will receive the additional dollars necessary to continue to reach new heights. While some contend her selection is about ideology, you are wrong. A university's responsibility is not to promote any one ideology or philosophy, but rather to teach students to think outside the box, to listen and understand all points of view - whether you agree with them or not - and then to be able to articulate your position cogently. FAMUans have a glorious history of doing all these things very well. Barney Bishop III is a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party and a CEO of Associated Industries of Florida. He is currently the CEO of Barney Bishop Consulting and can be reached at Barney@ letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@ Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Marva Johnson is the right choice for Florida A&M University | Opinion
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Carnegie Classification recognizes Behrend as a ‘Higher Earnings' college
ERIE — Penn State Behrend has received a new Carnegie Classification as a 'Higher Earnings' institution — a reflection of the return on investment for Behrend graduates. Just 10 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities received the 2025 designation, which measures graduates' earnings eight years after they enroll at a college. The designation, part of a new Student Access and Earnings Classification, is awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; it also assessed student access at the institutions that were evaluated. 'This new designation reinforces what we consistently hear from our graduates, who find success and competitive compensation in their chosen careers,' Chancellor Ralph Ford said. 'That measure is important not only to our graduates, but to prospective students who are just beginning their college experience and want to be strategic with that investment.' In February, Penn State Behrend and Penn State Harrisburg received the Carnegie Classification for 'Research Colleges and Universities,' a new designation for high-achieving research institutions that do not award Ph.D. degrees. To qualify, a college must produce at least $2.5 million in annual research and development spending. At Behrend, the research enterprise now generates nearly $10 million in sponsored research every year. Highlights from the last year include: • $6.5 million from the commonwealth's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to begin construction of the Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness, an industry-facing research facility that will feature specialized plastics, metal-casting and manufacturing labs. • $4.4 million from the Department of Defense and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation to develop metals-based manufacturing programs. • $2.5 million in federal funding for a battery-testing rig that will be used to study thermal runaway — a chain-reaction that can occur when lithium-ion batteries overheat. 'Research opportunities are a pillar of Penn State Behrend's 'Open Lab' approach to learning,' Ford said. 'For students — especially undergraduates — a research experience can be a differentiator. In the lab or in the field, students more fully understand the nature of their work, and they see firsthand how they can make a difference.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Valley University's high return on investment for students of all backgrounds earning national salutes
Michelle Jackson already possessed several of the qualities needed for college success: Ambition. Strong work ethic. Tenacity. And, finally, a vision for her personal and professional future. But what Jackson needed were those educational opportunities that can be challenging to find for so-called 'First Gens.' Jackson is a first generation immigrant and a first generation college student. She's also a young mother and a new homeowner — busy tackling the day-to-day tasks of caring for a couple of small children and helping to support a household. Utah Valley University, said Jackson, is her ongoing source for those essential educational and mentoring opportunities. 'Anyone who wants to go to UVU has the same opportunities available to them. They make it really accessible for everyone,' she told the Deseret News. The institutional opportunities being offered to Jackson and many of her classmates have earned UVU — the state's largest university by enrollment — an 'Opportunity College and University' designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation highlights UVU as 'a model for studying how campuses can create and support student success by providing more access to more people in their communities and fostering high earnings post-graduation,' according to a university release. The UVU designation is part of a newly introduced Student Access and Earnings Classification, published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. The new classification assesses how well institutions create opportunities for student success by measuring whether they enroll students who reflect the communities they serve and by comparing the graduates' earnings to their peers in the same areas. Only 16% of the nation's colleges and universities received a similar 'Opportunity College and University' designation. 'As an open-access institution, UVU encourages students to 'Come as you are' and provides a high-quality education with seamless pathways to a degree, whether through vocational/community college offerings or four-year and master's programs,' said UVU Acting President Jim Mortensen in the release. 'This innovative model has resulted in strong job placement and competitive wages for our graduates, who consistently earn above the national median." 'This Carnegie Classification affirms that our student programs truly make a difference in fostering career success.' UVU reports almost 75% of its graduates securing 'high-wage, high-demand' jobs with 4- or 5-star ratings by the Utah Department of Workforce Services in a variety of fields — including nursing, elementary education, engineering, computer science, finance and marriage and family therapy. UVU leaders also point to the school's comprehensive approach to student support services as key to fostering an opportunity-rich campus. The school's Student Success Center, for example, offers students of all backgrounds academic advising, tutoring, mentorship and wellness programs. Meanwhile, the First-Generation Student Success Center and UVU's GEAR UP resource assistance program offer admissions-to-graduation guidance for students such as Jackson. A Mexico City native, Jackson and her family moved to Provo when she was a little girl. After graduating from Provo High School, she discovered a path to higher education via UVU's GEAR UP program. She began attending school, married and expected to follow a linear student path to Graduation Day. But life intervened. Family challenges and pregnancy prompted Jackson to step away from school. But when she and her husband later found out they were expecting their second child, 'I decided I needed to be a good influence for my children and teach them the importance of education — so I re-enrolled at UVU.' Excited to be back in class and pursuing educational goals, Jackson said she's been 'all in' during her second stint at the Orem school. She participated in the school's 'Presidential 100' program — enjoying the mentorship of UVU President Astrid Tuminez and others on campus. Jackson remembers Tuminez encouraging her to chase and capture dreams. 'President Tuminez said, 'Go write down your dreams and start working on them. You really can accomplish these things.'' That sort of campus leadership and support has proven pivotal for Jackson and her family in purchasing their first home — and she's a year away from graduating with an accounting degree. She has her post-graduation eye on entrepreneurship. Jackson added she has never felt unseen at UVU, despite the school's massive student body of almost 50,000. 'They do a wonderful job of connecting with everyone, individually,' she said. Inside Higher Ed recently highlighted UVU's classification as an 'Opportunity University,' noting the school's commitment to first generation students and non-traditional students. Kyle Reyes, vice president for institutional advancement at Utah Valley, said he attributes the university's high 'Return on Investment' for students to the institution's long-term investment in student success initiatives — and an unwillingness to deviate from its original mission as a broad-access institution. Some of those efforts, Inside Higher Ed noted, have included partnerships with K-12 schools; helping students fill out federal financial aid applications; offering scholarships; academic advising; a food pantry; low-cost, on-campus childcare; student research opportunities; paid internships; and completion grants for returning students. Recognition as an affordable pathway to economic stability through the new classification system is both 'validating' for Utah Valley and a 'game-changer' for all of higher education, Reyes told Inside Higher Ed. 'For so long, the incentives were for exclusion, prestige, lower admission rates and higher test scores — even though on the ground we knew the masses weren't being served by that model,' he said.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama A&M University receives new Carnegie classification
NORMAL, Ala. (WHNT) – Alabama A&M University has received a new recognition as a Research College and University, an achievement that reflects the school's commitment to research through the work of its faculty and students. The newly redesigned Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education were debuted in February. They were established as the framework for categorizing accredited, degree-granting institutions within the United States. The American Council on Education redesigned the Carnegie Classifications to display the depth and diversity of research across higher education. Madison man shows unique talent brick by brick with Lego collection The framework for 2025 includes three key research designs, according to the new Carnegie Classifications: Research 1 (R1) – Very High Spending and Doctorate Production, defined by a clear threshold of $50 million in total research spending and 70 research doctorates awarded annually. Research 2 (R2) – High Spending and Doctorate Production, which continues the previous requirement of $5 million in research spending and 20 research doctorates awarded annually. Research College and University (RCU) – Identifies research happening at colleges and universities that historically have not been recognized for their research activity, including institutions that do not offer many or any doctoral degrees. The announcement made by ACE and the Carnegie Foundation said that 216 institutions were awarded RCU status in 2025. 'The 2025 Carnegie Classification's Research and University aims to highlight research activity at institutions that have historically been overlooked due to lower numbers of doctoral graduates,' said Dr. Majed Dweik, Vice President of Research & Economic Development. 'By setting a research expenditure threshold of at least $2.5 million annually, this classification ensures that universities like Alabama A&M receive well-deserved recognition for their contributions to research and development.' The university said that they are hopeful that the accreditation will attract students and researchers while also enhancing AAMU's global research reputation. AAMU said they are actively working toward an R2 designation. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'This new distinction spotlights our University's emphasis on impact and discovery through diverse research activity. Thanks to the ongoing work of our faculty and staff to expand research across the institution, we are well-positioned in our efforts to reach R2 classification in the near future,' said President Daniel K. Wims. AAMU has several notable programs, such as their Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science, Education and Healthcare and Business and Public Afairs programs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Langston, UCO receive new research designation from national group
A change in the way two national organizations recognize the research done at universities has resulted in two Oklahoma schools receiving a prestigious designation. Langston University and the University of Central Oklahoma were among 216 schools that received the new 'Research Colleges and Universities' designation in the Carnegie Classification, which is administered by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since 1973, the Carnegie Classification has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in higher education across the U.S. The classifications are updated every three years and give institutions designations based on their sizes, types of degrees conferred and many other such characteristics. The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University — the state's two largest universities — long have been considered the state's only research universities, earning a so-called 'R1' rating in the Carnegie Classification. That places OSU and OU among 187 institutions that, on average in a single year, spend at least $50 million research and development and award at least 70 research doctorates. There's also a R2 rating, for schools spend at least $5 million on research and development and award at least 20 research doctorates. But many smaller schools don't have the resources to spend that much on research or have limited (or no) doctoral programs, or both. UCO and Langston each fall into that category. But last month, the Carnegie Foundation and ACE released the first phase of the redesigned Carnegie Classifications, to more fully recognize the amount of research underway at institutions without a R1 or R2 designation. They said the change came in an attempt to better account for and reflect what it called 'the multifaceted research landscape within U.S. higher education.' 'A highlight of our work to modernize the Carnegie Classification is the new Research Colleges and Universities designation, which will shed light on institutions that have engaged in research but historically haven't been recognized for it,' said Ted Mitchell, president of ACE. 'Instead of limiting research designations to the select institutions that award Ph.D.s, all types of colleges and universities will now be celebrated for their research contributions. That's great news.' In academic circles, Langston — a historically Black land-grant university in rural Logan County near the town that shares a name with the school — probably is best known for its E. (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, but it also has research programs for horticulture and agronomy, aquaculture and aquaponics, biotechnology, and agribusiness and rural economic development, among others. Langston's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center was renewed for a third five-year cycle of funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research in late 2023. Langston President Ruth Ray Jackson said schools with the Research Colleges and Universities designation spend at least $2.5 million annually on research and development. She said the university spent about $10.5 million on research in fiscal year 2023. The university offers only one doctoral program, the Doctor of Physical Therapy, which is a professional, not a research, doctorate. 'This recognition highlights the hard work and dedication of our researchers, faculty and staff who strive to strengthen the academy,' said Alonzo Peterson, Langston's vice president for academic affairs. 'We have very smart people at Langston University. I am always inspired when I visit the labs or sit down with my colleagues.' Similarly, UCO fits neatly into the new Carnegie Classifications designation. Located in Edmond, UCO has only one doctoral program, in forensic science, but is in the exploratory/planning stages for other professional doctorate degrees, spokeswoman Adrienne Nobles said. UCO spent an average of $7.05 million annually on research projects during the past three years. 'Research conducted at University of Central Oklahoma moves our state and nation forward. For years, our faculty and students have engaged in innovative and impactful research on the undergraduate and graduate level,' UCO President Todd Lamb said. 'This new classification formally recognizes and elevates our ongoing mission to transform students through education, preparing them to meet the critical needs of our communities. UCO has the momentum to become a driving force for academic research in Oklahoma.' UCO offers 115 undergraduate and 78 graduate programs to more than 12,500 students. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Langston, UCO receive new research designation from national group
