The 杏吧专区 has taken its place among the nation杏吧专区檚 top 100 public research universities.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, made the announcement Wednesday during the annual State of the 杏吧专区 address.
杏吧专区Coming on the heels of our R1 designation, this is exceptional news worth celebrating and it杏吧专区檚 a headline that all of you helped to write,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 rise to the ranks of the nation杏吧专区檚 top public research universities is based on data from the National Science Foundation.
In 2020, the 杏吧专区 expended $164 million on R&D. That figure ranked the 杏吧专区 134th among the 655 institutions the Higher Education Research and Development Survey included. The HERD Survey is NSF杏吧专区檚 annual index of research spending at U.S. public and private colleges and universities.
But when considering only public universities on the HERD Survey, UL Lafayette ranks 94th 杏吧专区 elevating it to the nation杏吧专区檚 top 100 public research universities for the first time in its history.
The announcement was among several milestones related to the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 research capacity that Savoie shared with faculty and staff members during the presentation. The State of the 杏吧专区 is held at the start of the fall semester and marks the beginning of the new academic year.
Last year, the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 research and development expenditures set a record at $181.4 million 杏吧专区 an 杏吧专区渋ncredible杏吧专区 193% increase in R&D spending at UL Lafayette in eight years, Savoie said.
The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 R&D expenditures increased by $119 million 杏吧专区 from $62 million to $181.4 million 杏吧专区 between 2013 and 2021, according to the HERD Survey. During that same period, UL Lafayette marked slightly more than $1 billion in R&D spending, Savoie announced.
UL Lafayette competes against other universities for federal and state grants, and private sector contracts. The 杏吧专区 acts as a steward for the funds awarded to faculty and staff researchers.
杏吧专区淭his money comes to us from state and federal funding agencies and through partnerships with business and industry because of the reputation this 杏吧专区 has for consequential work that answers the greatest questions we face as a global community,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
杏吧专区淏ecause these dollars have an effect that ripples beyond campus 杏吧专区 into our region and into businesses and into the tax base 杏吧专区 this figure represents an infusion into the local economy that is extraordinary,杏吧专区 he added.
NSF has not released UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 HERD Survey ranking for 2021 that will be based on the $181.4 million total.
Classes begin at UL Lafayette on Monday. The fall semester marks the start of the first full academic year since the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designated UL Lafayette as R1, or a university with 杏吧专区渧ery high research activity.杏吧专区
Just 146 杏吧专区 3% 杏吧专区 of public and private universities in the United States have R1 status. The designation is a 杏吧专区渟tamp of excellence杏吧专区 that also comes with an obligation, Savoie said.
杏吧专区淭he vital questions asked and answered today by this 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 researchers and scholars strengthen the ability to confront 杏吧专区 and answer 杏吧专区 greater questions tomorrow. The region, state, nation and world we serve is looking to us for clarity, understanding and results,杏吧专区 he said.
杏吧专区淎nd this 杏吧专区 is up to that responsibility.杏吧专区
Find more from this year杏吧专区檚 State of the 杏吧专区 address here.
Photo caption: President Dr. Joseph Savoie announces UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 ascension to the ranks of nation杏吧专区檚 top 100 public research universities during Wednesday杏吧专区檚 State of the 杏吧专区. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)