The Faculty’s Senate reviewed the University of Idaho’s progress towards a higher research classification and an upcoming accreditation review in the spring of 2022.
R1 search status
Christopher T. Nomura, Vice President of Research and Economic Development, presented the UI’s move to an R1 research classification and the P3-R1 funding initiative.
The UI will be assessed in December by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education at Indiana University to potentially be certified as an R1 or R2 institution. To be placed, the UI must be rated as having high or very high search activity. The university is aiming for higher R1 status.
The UI has been labeled a doctoral university for having more than 20 doctorates in research and scholarships.
Another measure used for classification is research expenditure. Unemployment insurance spending in 2019 was $ 113 million, which allows it to be placed in R1 or R2 status.
However, these classifications are compared by other universities alongside the UI. These comparisons can be the amount of research productivity, earning a research doctorate, and the characteristics of the workforce, including faculty size and the number of non-teaching researchers with degrees. a Ph.D.
“It’s certainly not constant. It’s a moving target, ”Nomura said. “There are a variety of different elements that determine through a formula that Carnegie does not reveal.”
The P3-R1 initiative aims to increase the number of research doctorates and scholarships at UI. It also aims to increase the amount of externally funded research at UI as well as to increase the facilities and administration rate of externally funded research. UI has invested $ 3 million to help with this program.
This program will have a matching grant that encourages professors to seek external funding that supports the doctorate. students and postdoctoral researchers.
For two doctorates. funded students, one will be funded by this program and one postdoctoral funded; the program will also provide one.
“They are basically the salaries… of the students in these programs,” Nomura said. “The hope is that he can quickly broaden the base and opportunities for people who come out and launch these programs.”
University accreditation
Acting Vice-Rector for Academic Initiatives Dean Panttaja and the University’s Chair of Assessment and Accreditation Barbara Kirchmeier explained why UI is aiming for accreditation, with the next assessment taking place. this spring.
“It is a voluntary assessment of our best qualities and our instincts as an institution in carrying out the mission,” said Panttaja.
The IU must demonstrate in the accreditation process that there is a continuous evaluation cycle that leads to continuous improvements that align with its institution’s mission and strategic plan. Every part of the UI institution participates in accreditation and goes through peer review to take internal review seriously.
Currently, the UI is accredited by the Northwestern Commission on College and Universities which will provide recommendations for improvement.
While the university goes through accreditation as a whole, some departments have their own external accreditation program.
“Units that have an external accreditor are not seen as handy fruits. Most of them have a solid assessment to be accredited by an external accreditor, ”said Panttaja. “They are not affected by units that have external approvals because they have a robust assessment process and all speak the same language.”
Other news
Provost and Executive Vice President Torrey Lawrence provided an update on the current number of students who have presented proof of COVID-19 vaccination. 3,406 more students have been vaccinated since the figures were updated last week, an increase from the first draw.
Lawrence also reminded the Senate of Campus Security Awareness Month Katy Benoit and Take Back the Night on September 23. There will be a guest speaker on the lawn of the Theophilus Tower at 7 p.m. followed by a candlelight walk around campus. This event aims to show solidarity and support survivors of interpersonal violence.
Daniel V. Ramirez can be contacted at[email protected]or Twitter @DVR_Tweets
