Lamar has been recognized as an R2 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation reflects the school’s high level of research activity.
To receive this recognition, an institution must award a minimum of 20 research doctorates and spend at least $5 million on research and development annually.
“Becoming an R2 institution, that's what academics is about," President Jaime Taylor said. “And now people across the nation are going to recognize Lamar University as a research institution.”
Lamar currently has $19 million allotted in active research funding, Gene Theodori, associate provost for academic affairs, said.
“By attracting those external dollars, we are doing much more research and doing it at a higher level,” Theodori said. “It allows us to be recognized by really a different set of peers.”
Lamar’s list of active funders include the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and charitable organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“It's a competition — funds aren't just handed out," Theodori said. “Our faculty have been very successful over the last few years in beating out the competition and attracting those funds from those funders, which then we use for the research and to hire students.”
From 2021 to 2023, Lamar increased its research expenditures by almost double the amount of previous years, Taylor said.
“When I came here, we had enough doctorals to be an R2, but we weren't doing enough externally funded research,” Taylor said. “We've increased our research funding by nearly 100%, and by doubling our research funding that puts us in a new category.”
The R2 designation will allow Lamar to continue to expand research opportunities for students, Theodori said.
“As faculty bring in these research dollars, they have funds to hire student researchers, whether that be at the graduate level or at the undergraduate level,” Theodori said. “We have seen a significant number of student researchers being employed at the university and being able to get involved with their professors in real world type research.”
Brett Welch, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said three key factors have propelled the university forward, including academic excellence and strategic programs, faculty driven research growth, and being a strategic location for research and industry collaboration.
“We're situated at the heart of the oil and gas industry, (with) the fourth busiest port in the United States, and frequently impacted by, unfortunately, natural disasters,” Welch said. “But this region presents rich opportunities for collaboration with industry leaders and government agencies.”
These circumstances allow faculty to conduct cutting edge research with real world applications, Welch said.
“As the institution celebrates 100 years of academic excellence, it now stands on the threshold of even greater accomplishments,” Welch said. “The research being conducted at Lamar not only benefits Southeast Texas, but also contributes valuable knowledge on a global and national scale.”
Taylor said becoming an R2 will allow Lamar to make investments in the future of research.
“All this, in turn, elevates the quality of education we provide to Lamar University, and this is just the beginning,” Taylor said. “This new designation will absolutely be transformative for Lamar University.”