The R1 designation measures investments made by a university’s public and private sectors to support research conducted by faculty and students.
Texas State is currently classified as an R2 university, but becoming R1 means Texas State will have a reputation for research excellence, Chief Research Officer Shreek Mandayam said.
“It’s not about being better, it’s about being different,” Mandayam said.
The big picture
University faculty members receive grants from either the state, federal or private industry to fund research with undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers look to solve problems that are of interest to society, Mandayam said.
To receive an R1 designation, universities must have at least $50 million in research expenses and graduate an average of 70 doctoral degrees each year over three consecutive years, Mandayam said.
Texas State met the $50 million marker in 2016 and continues to increase its research expenses, with $160 million invested in 2024. The 2024 reporting period was also the first year the university awarded over 70 doctoral degrees—a milestone university officials say will need to continue over the next two years.
We [had] 71 this year, and if we keep the momentum going, we will get there,” Mandayam said.
Although the university met its first metric to be granted an R1 designation, the university will need to continue investing in its new and existing doctorate programs.
The outlook
Mandayam said the university has invested $18 million in existing Ph.D. programs through scholarships, stipends and assistantships for Ph.D. candidates.
Texas State has also invested $50 million in new Ph.D. programs—which will double the amount offered over the next year.
Marking a milestone
Texas State’s “Next is Now” capital campaign, which concluded on Aug. 31, was designed to achieve R1 designation.
The campaign launched publicly in October 2021 and raised over $275 million overall, according to a news release.
Lawmakers also passed the Texas University Fund, or TUF, during the 88th Texas legislative session, which required a constitutional amendment—Proposition 5—to go before Texas voters in November 2023. The voter-approved proposition funds certain institutions of higher education to become major research universities.
Texas State was one of four universities that received $1 billion in TUF funding, which will fund new Ph.D. programs, recruit personnel and provide faculty with the resources they need to win federal grants, Mandayam said.
The impact
Mar Huertas Pau, an associate biology professor, said receiving the R1 status as a designated Hispanic-serving institution would help the university double its efforts in working for the Hispanic community.
Carlton Fong, an associate professor in the department of curriculum and instruction, said the R1 classification would unlock additional support, resources and opportunities.
He said it would also allow the university to attract and retain the best talent to help them continue reaching their goals.
“We’re working to advance how to make education systems more equitable by maximizing the potential for all learners and educators, especially those who have been historically excluded or institutionally marginalized,” Fong said.
Looking ahead
Mandayam said he would like to quadruple the number of Ph.D. programs Texas State offers and increase research expenses by another 50% in the future.
Texas State will also be looking to focus on the semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability and water research, Mandayam said.
"We have a huge focus on digital humanities, and we want to recruit scholars for the humanities from across the nation,” he said.
