Sul Ross State University has announced its designation as a Research College and University under the newly revised Carnegie Classifications system.

The revision marks a significant milestone for SRSU, elevating its status from a basic classification to recognition for its research activity and expenditures.

The Carnegie Classifications, maintained by the American Council on Education (ACE) in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, recently implemented sweeping changes to its framework. The new system places a stronger emphasis on research expenditures, ensuring institutions are categorized based on their research impact and investment. The updated model highlights the university’s growing contributions to scholarly inquiry and innovation.

SRSU has been steadily increasing its research capabilities, supporting projects in a variety of fields including natural and animal sciences, anthropology and education.

The university nearly doubled research expenditures in the last decade, up from $2.5 million in 2014 to $4.8 in 2023. The new classification opens the door for additional funding opportunities, research partnerships and academic growth.

“This reclassification is a monumental achievement for Sul Ross State University,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, associate provost for Research and Development. ” Over the last three years, we have prioritized a variety of research initiatives across campus to enhance our research portfolio, including research forums, grant writing workshops and trainings, and a new seminar series.  These initiatives have paid dividends, resulting in almost $5 million in research expenditures in 2023 alone.”

SRSU’s elevation to a research-designated institution is a testament to its strategic initiatives and substantial investments in research infrastructure, including the Borderlands Research Institute, Center for Big Bend Studies, La Frontera Research Initiative for STEM and the proposed West Texas Water Research Center, which is still in the early stages of choosing a director.

For more information on the Carnegie Classifications and their recent changes, visit ACE’s website or email provost@sulross.edu.