Louisiana's Push for Tier One status

[Rainman66]

Not sure it is more remarkable, but yes, still surprised. Adding to your list USF, UT-Dallas, New Mexico, & UAB (only R1 in Alabama).

[cajun_lannister]

Not sure it is more remarkable, but yes, still surprised. Adding to your list USF, UT-Dallas, New Mexico, & UAB (only R1 in Alabama).

UAB has a pretty good Medical school

[SMD7636]

Tier 1 has some subjective measures.

[wscoog]

Congrats to Rainman on his son's wise choice for undergraduate knowledge gathering. The tier 1 deal is one of those things that is not the holy grail but annoys my tech relatives enough that I know it is not meaningless. A small feather in the cap but still a feather. As the son of a professor whose research could only be analyzed by maybe 5 people in the world I can honestly say academic rankings are incredibly biased but are a part of the game. Keep up the improvements and great things are ahead. As an aside maybe the happiest times I have ever seen my parents was during our visit to Lafayette this spring. My parents have been all over the world and keep asking when we are we going back to Acadiana.

[Rainman66]

What really sold him was the Electrical Engineering Department, the honors college w/Dr Claydon & the dorms. Yes, he could commute, but didn’t want to.

I think this is the way UL is and should be going. Expanded, nicer dorms, that can entice kids that want the whole college experience to get it. This seems to be a millennial thing.

Now campus life doesn’t end at 5 pm when commuters leave. The stats say on-campus students have higher GPAs on average than their commuter peers.

Oh, and it definitely brings in more revenue for the school.

[Oiler]

The value of a non profession degree has plummeted these days. In fact, a non professional degree is practically worthless in today's job market. It's the universities that focus on those professional degree programs that will be the leading universities of tomorrow.

This being said, I guess I just question the value of being so focused on attaining a Tier I research ranking. What kind of research is it exactly that we're talking about? Is it research that provides value to companies that actually hire our graduates? What will attaining such status actually do for us? Is the pursuit of this ranking an efficient use of our limited resources, or is it simply a way of stroking a bunch of egos? I mean, does anyone really think that if the University of Alabama saw value in such a ranking, they wouldn't have it?

[Turbine]

Tier 1 is not worth the paper its printed on in the academic world... Carnegie classification carries all the weight

If true, then Tier 1 attainment should be a natural byproduct on the road to Carnegie R1.

[VObserver]

The value of a non profession degree has plummeted these days. In fact, a non professional degree is practically worthless in today's job market. It's the universities that focus on those professional degree programs that will be the leading universities of tomorrow.

This being said, I guess I just question the value of being so focused on attaining a Tier I research ranking. What kind of research is it exactly that we're talking about? Is it research that provides value to companies that actually hire our graduates? What will attaining such status actually do for us? Is the pursuit of this ranking an efficient use of our limited resources, or is it simply a way of stroking a bunch of egos? I mean, does anyone really think that if the University of Alabama saw value in such a ranking, they wouldn't have it?

Actually, I am shocked that Auburn, Mississippi State and Baylor are not R1. I expect all three will be in the next evaluation, as Carnegie is now giving more weight to Medical and Vet schools. I also expect South Alabama to move up for the same reason.

I am quite serious when I say that our highest priority for athletics is to be included in the R1 category this cycle. That is a HUGE plus for FIU, UNT and GaSt going forward. Remember who makes conference decisions. I can almost guarantee that any SBC, MAC or CUSA school that is not R1 is facing an uphill battle to be included in the upcoming consortium.

[VObserver]

If true, then Tier 1 attainment should be a natural byproduct on the road to Carnegie R1.

Totally different set of criteria, Turb.

[Turbine]

Totally different set of criteria, Turb.

Criteria is the point.

Saying it isn't worth the paper its written on is an excuse.

[Boomer]

Criteria is the point.

Saying it isn't worth the paper its written on is an excuse.

....I agree....get 'er done as it certainly can't hurt and seems like it wouldn't be that hard even with different criteria.....any state schools in La have these credentials?

[cajun_lannister]

Actually, I am shocked that Auburn, Mississippi State and Baylor are not R1. I expect all three will be in the next evaluation, as Carnegie is now giving more weight to Medical and Vet schools. I also expect South Alabama to move up for the same reason.

I am quite serious when I say that our highest priority for athletics is to be included in the R1 category this cycle. That is a HUGE plus for FIU, UNT and GaSt going forward. Remember who makes conference decisions. I can almost guarantee that any SBC, MAC or CUSA school that is not R1 is facing n uphill battle to be included in the upcoming consortium.

Yep hit the nail on the head we fail to move into R1 we will be on the outside looking in.