Glacier Country News

The University of Montana (UM) has successfully retained its "R1" status, affirming its position as a leading research and doctorate-granting institution in the United States. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education have designated UM as “Research 1: Very High Spending and Doctorate Production” for 2025.

"This is certainly good news for the University," said Scott Whittenburg, UM vice president for research and creative scholarship. He emphasized that this recognition aids in attracting both students and faculty to the university.

Approximately 3.7% of degree-granting colleges in the U.S. achieve R1 status. "It’s just a natural cycle for UM," Whittenburg explained, highlighting how increased research funding supports more graduate students, which in turn boosts doctoral completions.

UM first achieved R1 status in early 2022 under President Seth Bodnar's leadership. Bodnar noted, "Earning R1, again, validates what is central to UM’s very mission as a successful and vibrant public research university." He described the classification as an economic driver for the region and crucial to addressing global challenges.

Initially set to last five years until 2027, UM's R1 designation was reviewed earlier due to updates by Carnegie and ACE aimed at better reflecting higher education's evolving landscape. With this recent review completed successfully, Whittenburg anticipates that UM's status is secure for another four years despite a new three-year evaluation cycle.

For R1 classification in 2025, universities must spend at least $50 million on research and development while awarding a minimum of 70 research doctorates. In fiscal year 2023, UM reported $134 million in research expenditures and awarded 71 doctorates.

UM continues to see growth in its research efforts with record expenditures of $143.8 million in fiscal year 2024—a significant increase from previous years. "We still have some work to do as a campus to ensure we maintain our R1 status," Whittenburg acknowledged but also remarked on having cause for celebration at this time.