Texas now has more public Tier One research universities than any other state

In early February, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) achieved Tier One status with its new Carnegie R1 classification. It’s a prestigious designation shared by the top 4% of research universities in the nation, and UTSA’s elevation means Texas now has more public R1 universities than any other state. But what exactly does it mean? More importantly, why is it a big deal for Texas?

Why university research matters

All public research universities generally share two primary purposes: to educate students and prepare them for professional success, and to make the world a better place through research.

While most people are familiar with the first purpose, the second may not be as widely understood. University research is sometimes called “generating new knowledge,” which is another way of saying that institutions like UTSA are discovering new information to advance humankind in a multitude of ways.

Often, the research being done by university faculty addresses big problems affecting our society — things like poverty, brain disease, housing affordability and carbon emissions. Whether it is helping military veterans transition to civilian life, increasing accessibility to health information among underserved populations, or protecting EV charging stations from cyberattacks, research being done at Tier One universities like UTSA is playing a direct role in improving the lives of Texans.

What it means for Texas

Tier One universities attract new businesses, research dollars, world-class faculty members and the talented students seeking education. All of this leads to more impactful research to help current and future generations of Texans.

Just as important, having a Tier One university brings a multitude of benefits to our state, including:

● Increasing our economic competitiveness. Companies looking to locate in affordable communities with well-educated workforces will see that Texas is producing the talent they need.

● Attracting new money. Partnerships with federal agencies can bring significant financial investments to the state. UTSA’s Tier One status is proof that we have the talent, capabilities and track record to handle high-level projects.

● Drawing more workforce talent. UTSA’s designation will bring some of the world’s brightest minds to study, work and live in Texas.

● Supporting Texas businesses and our military. UTSA leverages partnerships with companies like USAA, Valero and Rackspace — as well as relationships with Joint Base San Antonio, NSA Texas and the 16th Air Force — to elevate and disseminate research. These partnerships ensure research is translated into practical solutions for a wide variety of sectors that we all depend on in our daily lives.

● Elevating the state’s prestige. National recognition of UTSA’s research capabilities brings prestige to our state and graduates. San Antonio’s success is shared on the state level: Texas now has more Tier One institutions than any other.

● Laying the groundwork for informed policy. Through innovative research partnerships, UTSA is driving the development of nationally-recognized areas of research excellence which can inform public policies on the local, state and national levels.

● Addressing ‘brain drain'. Texas students can stay in their home state to pursue an education from a Tier One institution — which is particularly important for those seeking graduate degrees. Graduate students at Tier One universities like UTSA can study and conduct research with professors who are on the cutting edge of their fields.

In addition to these benefits, UTSA’s status as a Tier One institution is particularly significant because of the university’s commitment to Hispanic student success.

San Antonio represents the demographic future of Texas and the United States. As one of only 20 Hispanic Serving Institutions in the nation with the Tier One designation, UTSA can advance Latino success in a more impactful way. More Latino students and faculty will have opportunities to do high-level research funded by some of the largest public and private agencies in the nation, while making connections that will help them advance in their fields of study and professions.

Celebrating a major milestone for our community

First and foremost, UTSA will always be about educating students, yet research is equally important in changing our world for the better. The university gives Texas another “seat at the table” with the nationally recognized institutions across our country that are solving society’s grandest challenges, ushering in a new era of exciting opportunities for our state and its citizens.