Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Achieves Tier Two Carnegie Classification

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is honored to announce its new “R2 Doctoral University – High Research Activity” classification by Carnegie Commission of Higher Education. The new designation, which was last updated in 2015, was just released this week. It’s the first time Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has reached Tier Two status.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of our University,” said Dr. Ahmed Mahdy, Vice President for Research, Commercialization and Outreach at A&M-Corpus Christi. “Carnegie is a gold standard classification. This team-effort achievement speaks to the caliber of our research and academics.”

Mahdy said this new standing as an R2 Doctoral University is a solid endorsement of the Island University’s research capabilities and its ability to serve as an ecosystem for innovation as well as an intellectual hub for the Coastal Bend region and beyond. Dr. Kelly M. Quintanilla, President and CEO of A&M-Corpus Christi, agrees.

“This Tier Two standing reflects the hard work of our Island University faculty, staff, and students, along with support from our alumni and community who believe in our mission of unparalleled commitment to every students’ success,” said Quintanilla. “Our dedication to high-impact teaching and research goes beyond the laboratory to benefit water quality, ocean life, air safety, the regional economy, and many more important aspects of the community we serve,” said Quintanilla.

The Carnegie Classification has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for the past four and a half decades. This framework has been widely used in the study of higher education, both as a way to represent and control for institutional differences, and also in the design of research studies to ensure adequate representation of sampled institutions, students, or faculty.

“A&M-Corpus Christi continues its momentum to become an Emerging Research University, and this is a big leap in that direction,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “We’re proud of their new Tier Two status and look forward to great things to come from the Island University in the new year.”