Dear ̽̽ community,
Congratulations, Catamounts! This morning, the American Council on Education announced that ̽̽ has earned —the highest research classification in the Carnegie system. This designation means ̽̽ is among the top universities in the United States in both the awarding of doctoral degrees and in overall research activity. Achieving R1 marks a milestone in ̽̽’s national standing and signals to our students, staff, and faculty and to our peer institutions across higher education that our university stands among the nation’s most influential research institutions.
For years, ̽̽ has been recognized regionally for our leadership in innovation, discovery, and scholarship, expanding the boundaries of knowledge, securing record-breaking funding, and working toward a thriving future for people and planet. Our new R1 status is both a culmination of those efforts and an opportunity to grow our national and international reputation as a global leader for research-driven impact. Backed by data from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education, this designation cements ̽̽’s position on the national stage and sets the course for an even more ambitious future.
While R1 status is based on past accomplishments, it strengthens our ability to recruit world-class faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students. It amplifies our academic prestige, making ̽̽ a magnet for outstanding undergraduate students from Vermont and around the world. And it solidifies ̽̽’s ability to lead major research initiatives, attract transformative investments, and drive economic and scientific progress far beyond the boundaries of our campus.
Most importantly, this new status recognizes the remarkable drive of ̽̽’s faculty, staff, and students across our colleges and schools. The Larner College of Medicine has been a cornerstone of ̽̽’s research excellence for decades, advancing groundbreaking discoveries in biomedical science and healthcare. Equally vital are the contributions of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for many years the other half of ̽̽’s research engine and a critical part of our importance to Vermont. Among the most impressive parts of building to R1 has been the tremendous growth of research outside of LCOM and CALS. Over the last five years, research expenditures have doubled in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, the Rubenstein School, and the College of Education and Social Services. We have seen strong growth in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the Grossman School of Business. Across our campus, our researchers have pushed the frontiers of knowledge in every field from the humanities and social sciences to sustainability, ecology, and planetary health.
To commemorate this historic achievement, ̽̽’s Office of Research will spotlight R1 recognition throughout its annual Research Week (April 21–25), honoring those who have fueled this transformation. This week-long celebration will feature a dynamic lineup of events showcasing the breadth and impact of ̽̽’s research enterprise. Highlights include the Vermont Advanced Computing Center’s open house, ̽̽ Innovation’s Invention 2 Venture conference, the Graduate College’s 3 Minute Thesis competition, and the Student Research Conference, which will open with a university-wide “R1 Celebration” at the Davis Center. We look forward to celebrating this outstanding, collaborative accomplishment and the impact of ̽̽’s world-class research with you!
Again, congratulations—and thank you for being the difference makers. This is more than a milestone; it’s a new era for ̽̽. The best is yet to come.
Patricia Prelock
Interim President
Kirk Dombrowski
Vice President for Research and Economic Development