Achieving R1

 

Achieving R1 at UAF

With more than $200 million in research activity each year, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is Alaska鈥檚 research university. We are ready to step up to R1 and join the top 4% of research universities in the United States.

R1 is more than a status symbol. It will take research in Alaska to the next level by opening doors to additional funding and attracting top-tier faculty and graduate students. In addition to powering discoveries that will shape Alaska鈥檚 future, UAF鈥檚 increased research activity benefits Alaska鈥檚 economy with more jobs and more spending at Alaska businesses.


 

 

What is R1?

The Carnegie Classification is a national framework for categorizing universities in the United States. Under the Carnegie Classification system, doctoral degree-granting research universities fall into three categories. UAF is now classified as an R2 (high research activity) university. Currently, only 3.7% of universities in the United States have R1 (very high research activity) status.

 

 


 

UAF research by the numbers

 

$8.80
generated
for each state dollar invested in R&D

 

$200.3
million
in R&D expenditures for FY23

   

67%
R&D expenditures growth over the last five years


 

 

Frequently asked questions

UAF is currently classified as an R2 university, which is the middle tier of Carnegie鈥檚 classification of doctoral degree-granting research universities. UAF is the only Alaska university in this category. About 7% of universities in the United States are classified as R2 universities.

Carnegie reviews universities every three years. The next review is based on FY24, FY25 and FY26 data. In order to become an R1 university, UAF must demonstrate average annual research expenditures of $50 million and award an average of 70 doctorates each year. UAF鈥檚 research expenditures already far exceed $50 million yearly. From FY21 to FY23, UAF averaged 34 doctorates each year.

UAF鈥檚 research expenditures are strong, so we are focused on graduating and recruiting more Ph.D.s. UAF has requested $20 million in state funding to recruit Ph.D. students and provide fellowships to those students, as well as funding for faculty and staff to mentor and support doctoral students.

R1 status will make UAF more competitive for external funding. That additional revenue will allow UAF to provide the staffing and financial support necessary to sustain a higher level of research activity. UAF is also exploring new tools to improve the Ph.D. process and help increase doctoral-degree completion rates.

 


 

Degree programs


 

 

Steering committee

  • Taryn Lopez, chair
    Geophysical Institute

  • Jessica Black
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Sabine Siekmann
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Carl Tape
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/Geophysical Institute

  • Darren Tan, student
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/Geophysical Institute
  • Alex Hirsch
    Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

  • Todd Brinkman 
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/Institute of Arctic Biology

  • Nicole Misarti
    College of Engineering and Mines/Institute of Northern Engineering

  • LaVerne Demientieff
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Briana Walters
    Office of Management and Budget

Working groups

This working group will develop mechanisms to efficiently and effectively track UAF graduate students from application through degree completion to help evaluate progress and opportunities to improve Ph.D. recruitment and retention, which will help us ultimately achieve R1 status. This group will also work to collect data to inform work led by other groups.

Overall goal: Develop mechanisms to efficiently and effectively track UAF graduate student experiences and identify obstacles and opportunities to improve the Ph.D. process for students, staff and faculty.

  • Jessica Armstrong
    Center for Teaching and Learning

  • Rich Collins
    Graduate School

  • Seth Danielson
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

  • Lynnette Dunn
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics
  • Anna Gagne-Hawes
    Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

  • Taryn Lopez
    Geophysical Institute

  • Chantelle McGinness
    Planning, Analysis and Institutional Research

Cross-campus UAF research themes can unite multidisciplinary research talent to develop ambitious, impactful and innovative research with relevance to Alaska. Priorities of this working group will be to identify Alaska-relevant research themes, facilitate the development of collaborative research networks and help coordinate thematic research across UAF.

Overall goal: Identify cross-campus UAF research themes and develop thematic networks to unite multidisciplinary research talent to develop ambitious, impactful and innovative research with relevance to Alaska.

  • Jessica Black
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Courtney Carothers
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

  • Jeremy Kasper
    Alaska Center for Energy and Power

  • Sarah McConnell
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Stacy Rasmus
    Center for Alaska Native Research
  • Arleigh Reynolds
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • John Smelter
    Division of Exploratory Studies and Academic Success

  • Perrin Teal Sullivan 
    Geophysical Institute

  • Peter Webley
    Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship

 

Ph.D. programs are essential to attaining R1 status and provide mission-critical benefits to the university. High priorities of this working group will be to reduce unnecessary barriers to Ph.D. degree completion, facilitate transitions from master鈥檚 to doctoral programs, promote Ph.D. opportunities through our interdisciplinary studies program, and increase capacity in our world-renowned Indigenous studies program.

Overall goal: Ph.D. programs are essential to attaining R1 status and provide mission-critical benefits to the university. This group aims to strengthen existing programs and potentially grow new Ph.D. programs (resources permitting).

  • David Fee
    Geophysical Institute

  • Kristen Gorman
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

  • Amanda (White) Langhorst 
    College of Business and Security Management

  • Amy May
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Diane O'Brien
    Institute of Arctic Biology
  • Josh Reuther
    UA Museum of the North

  • Sally Samson
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Sabine Siekmann
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Sean (Asikluk) Topkok
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Rachel Neubuhr-Torres, student
    College of Liberal Arts

 

Informal surveys among faculty suggest that the largest barrier to taking on new Ph.D. students is the difficulty in procuring financial support for the student for the full duration of a typical doctoral degree program. Providing fellowship opportunities to prospective and current graduate students would make UAF鈥檚 hiring offers more competitive, increase enrollment and allow current students to focus on their research and make timely Ph.D. progress. A short-term priority of this working group is to implement an R1-specific Ph.D. fellowship program and to refine the process to best meet the needs of UAF Ph.D. students.

Overall goal: The main goal of this working group will be to develop a competitive graduate fellowship program to support new and/or continuing Ph.D. students to enhance the number of high-quality Ph.D. students accepted across all disciplines; reduce the financial burden of graduate students on UAF faculty mentors; improve graduate student productivity; and increase doctoral degree completion rates.

  • Karsten Hueffer
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics

  • Darren Tan, student
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/Geophysical Institute

  • Carl Tape
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/Geophysical Institute

  • Patrick Marlow
    College of Liberal Arts
  • Helene Genet
    Institute of Arctic Biology

  • Srijan Aggarwal
    College of Engineering and Mines

  • Brenda Konar
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

  • Syndonia Bret-Harte
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics

 

Mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on research projects provides numerous benefits to UAF鈥檚 strategic educational and research missions, as well as a pipeline of graduate students and faculty to support R1 research. Mentorship resources will include training and resources focused on mentoring, including mentoring early career researchers facing mental health and wellness challenges, and development of tiered-mentorship research groups. These initiatives will increase student research opportunities, integration of undergraduate students in research, and pathways of graduate education and doctoral-degree completion.

Overall goal: Short-term priorities of this working group are to identify and prioritize incentives and resources needed to help faculty efficiently and effectively mentor early career researchers. Incentives may include merit-based award systems, workload support for faculty mentorship of Ph.D. students and financial incentives for faculty whose students complete their doctoral degree.

  • Alisa Alexander
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Aggy Boldt, student
    Honors College

  • Vanesa Burgos
    Geophysical Institute

  • Hajo Eicken 
    International Arctic Research Center

  • Lori Gildehaus 
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics
  • Alex Hirsch
    Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

  • Joseph Holt
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Maya Salganek 
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Bill Simpson
    Geophysical Institute

  • Diane Wagner
    Institute of Arctic Biology

 

Faculty play a critical role in advancing the metrics required to attain R1 research status, particularly in competing for research grants and mentoring Ph.D. students. High priorities of this working group will be to identify and prioritize mechanisms to recruit new faculty and better support existing faculty.

Overall goals: The overall goal of this group is to identify key challenges and opportunities related to faculty recruitment and retention and propose innovative and actionable solutions.

  • Tom Ballinger
    International Arctic Research Center

  • Leah Berman
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics

  • Todd Brinkman
    Institute of Arctic Biology

  • Abel Bult-Ito
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics

  • Jessica Glass
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
  • Jennifer Hoppough
    Office of the Provost

  • Derek Miller
    College of Engineering and Mines

  • Michael Roddewig
    College of Engineering and Mines

  • Karen Taylor
    College of Liberal Arts

 

Promoting UAF鈥檚 world-renowned research and recruiting competitive graduate students will be critical to UAF attaining R1 status. High priorities of this group will be to modernize UAF Ph.D. program websites; craft effective and professional messaging for R1 inreach and outreach; ensure that R1 communications and initiatives align with UAF's mission, brand and long-term strategic and enrollment plans; and organize campuswide prospective graduate student visits beginning in AY24/25.

Overall goal: Promoting UAF鈥檚 world-renowned research and recruiting competitive graduate students will be critical to UAF attaining R1 status. The overall goals of this group are to craft effective and professional messaging to promote UAF research on a local, state and international scale.

  • Katelin Avery
    College of Engineering and Mines

  • Rod Boyce
    Geophysical Institute

  • Marmian Grimes
    Advancement

  • Tom Hough
    Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

  • Claudia Ihl 
    College of Indigenous Studies
  • Hannah Mevenkamp, student 
    College of Natural Science and Mathematics/IAB

  • Nicole Misarti 
    Institute of Northern Engineering

  • Adam Rubin
    Advancement

  • Samara Taber
    Administrative Services

  • Grace Veenstra, student
    Geophysical Institute

 

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and access enriches the educational experience in a variety of ways, to include critical thinking, cultural engagement, and a sense of belonging that positively impact recruitment and retention, innovation, and well-being among students, faculty, and staff. Numerous studies have linked research innovation to researcher diversity. This working group will focus on ensuring these concepts overlay UAF鈥檚 R1 efforts.

Overall goal: The goals of this working group are to ensure that all R1 initiatives use best practices in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access; to reduce barriers that limit research accessibility; to support mentorship, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and research innovation; and to help to make UAF a more welcoming environment for all.

  • LaVerne Demientieff
    College of Liberal Arts


  • Charleen Fisher
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Sonia Ibarra
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

  • Joshua  Knicely
    Geophysical Institute
  • Lea Line, student
    College of Liberal Arts

  • Kimberly McGinnis 
    College of Business and Security Management

  • Kendell Newman Sadiik
    Center for Teaching and Learning

  • Veronica Plumb 
    College of Indigenous Studies

  • Olga Skinner
    School of Education

 

This working group will be responsible for knowledge about how various metrics are supported, interrelate and align with UAF鈥檚 broader mission and for ensuring that the R1 Steering Committee moves in an effective, cohesive and transparent direction. 

Overall goal: The overarching goal of this group is to provide a university-wide perspective, ensure quality control, determine the benefits of R1 status and provide resource support to the other working groups.

  • Briana Walters
    Administrative Services

  • John Latini
    UA System

  • Karen Tomasik
    Advancement

  • Brittany Van Eck
    Facilities Services

  • Lillian Anderson-Misel
    Geophysical Institute
  • Jason Theis
    Administrative Services

  • Maren Savage 
    Geophysical Institute/University Affiliated Research Center

  • Ashley Munro 
    Financial Aid

  • Derek Bastille
    Staff Council representative