URI community, state officials celebrate prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification

February 14, 2025

If the news that the University of Rhode Island had achieved prestigious status as one of the top research universities in the U.S. wasn’t the best kept secret on campus, it wasn’t due to President Marc Parlange.

“I have to say it took all my will not to ‘spill the tea’ before now–that’s what the students say these days, right?” said Parlange this afternoon before a packed Memorial Union Ballroom on the Kingston Campus.

Amid blue and white balloons and banners heralding the achievement, URI faculty, staff and students joined University leaders, Gov. Dan McKee, and state lawmakers, including Sen. Alana DiMario, and Reps. Kathy Fogarty, Carol McEntee, and Teresa Tanzi, today to celebrate the official announcement that URI had achieved R1 designation in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation places URI among the 187 institutions that have achieved R1 classification—the top 4.8% of degree-granting postsecondary institutions nationally.

“I am so pleased and so proud to announce that the University of Rhode Island has officially achieved R1 status, the highest classification for research institutions in the United States,” said Parlange to cheers and applause. “This designation recognizes universities with the most advanced research activity and impact—placing URI among the top-tier research institutions in the nation.”

The R1 classification signifies that URI has achieved the highest level of research activity, measured by the number of doctoral degrees awarded and the amount of spending on research and development. To earn the designation, institutions must grant at least 70 doctoral degrees and have more than $50 million in total research spending annually.

“This milestone is not just about rankings,” said Parlange. “It’s about impact. We are a powerhouse for research and education fueling discoveries that benefit not just our students and faculty but Rhode Island, the nation, and the world.”

“This is testament to everyone here today for their hard work and commitment,” said Governor McKee. “URI is not only a leader in higher education. Today, they’re reaffirming their position as a leader in research on a national scale.

“Being named an R1 institution by Carnegie is further proof that this school truly goes above and beyond for its students and our state,” he added. “This classification means URI can attract the best faculty, researchers, and students to campus … and can provide one-of-a-kind research and experiential learning opportunities. This is more than just a point of pride for Rhode Island. It’s necessary for economic and workforce growth and national competitiveness.”

State Sen. DiMario and Rep. Fogarty congratulated URI faculty, staff and students for the hard work it took to earn this classification, and noted that it reflects URI’s standing as a center for academic excellence and innovation.

Barbara Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said R1 recognition is proof of the dedication, expertise and vision of the University’s academic community. 

“Across diverse disciplines, our faculty have driven a 25% increase in research expenditures over five years, exceeding $144 million and solidifying URI as a leading research institution,” said Wolfe. “The research expenditures represent real-world impact—on health care, the blue economy, and the many other fields being advanced by our faculty who are improving our communities, the state, and the world.”

In her comments, Bethany Jenkins, vice president for research and economic development, described what it takes to produce successful research—research that improves lives and serves society. It’s the long hours put in by faculty, principal investigators, and students; faculty who have sustained research programs for years; early career members who are receiving major recognition for their work; and the work of support staff who oversee the grant proposal pipeline, she said. 

“I want to celebrate that this collective hard work at URI has paid off today with this major recognition for URI to be included among America’s best R1 research universities,” said Jenkins. “We accept this designation with pride and further determination to continue our research excellence for the common good.” 

Dean of the Graduate School Brenton DeBoef noted the vital contributions graduate students— “the secret sauce,” as he called them — make to the University’s research ecosystem. The University has more than 2,400 graduate students in over 124 doctoral, master’s and certificate programs. Graduate enrollment is growing fast, he said, and URI has a goal of doubling graduate enrollment in the next decade.

“The University of Rhode Island is a destination for research,” he said. “Its graduate programs attract students from every continent—except Antarctica, of course—but we send students to do research on every continent—including Antarctica.”

Parlange added that the R1 classification puts URI on the map, enhancing the value of a URI degree, while garnering more recognition locally, nationally and internationally. But the work is far from over.

“Public universities like ours have a unique responsibility—and we’re rising to the challenge,” he said. “While this is a moment to celebrate, it is also a call to action. Achieving R1 is not the finish line—it’s the beginning of a new era at URI.”