UNC Charlotte granted new Carnegie Classification

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Earlier this month, UNC Charlotte was categorized as a doctoral-granting institution with higher research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Created in 1973 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Carnegie Classification system describes institutions based on their degree programs and other factors, such as enrollment profile, size and setting. Within the category of doctoral research universities, classification is based on research doctorates awarded annually and measures of research and development expenditures. 

“UNC Charlotte now awards more than 100 research doctorates a year, and our research expenditures have increased to $34 million, an 8 percent increase since 2013-14,” said Provost Joan Lorden in explaining the Carnegie Classification change for the University. “We are on track to show another significant increase this year. Our Dec. 31, 2015, expenditures were 17 percent higher than the same point in 2014.”

Robert Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development, stated the move from a doctoral-granting institution with modest research activity to one with higher research demonstrates UNC Charlotte’s growth as a public research university and reinforces the institution’s role as North Carolina’s urban research university.