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CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic University of America (CUA) received an “R1” designation from the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education this year, marking it as one of the top research universities in the United States.
CUA reports that the R1 Category designates “Very High Spending and Doctorate Production” and is awarded every three years. Qualifying universities must spend at least $50 million on research and development and produce at least 70 research doctorates.
With CUA spending above $50 million on research and awarding 94 research doctorates, the school became one of 187 American colleges and universities with an R1 status.
Aaron Dominguez, Ph.D., senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, stated that the designation recognizes the school’s roots and future, as the school was founded as a research university for the Catholic Church in the U.S.
“As the only Newman Guide university with R1 status, all the research we do is always 100 percent in alignment with the Catholic Church,” Dominguez added later. “There’s a false narrative out there that you can’t be a research university and be faithfully Catholic. That’s simply not true and we’re proving it.”
Dominguez attributed to the research program’s growth in part to hiring Joseph Yost, Ph.D., as senior vice provost of research. CUA reports that Yost is leading the effort to build the school’s research infrastructure.
Yost stated that CUA’s current research efforts include artificial intelligence, exploring the universe, and modern social issues.
“There’s innovation happening in a lot of different areas on campus,” Yost said, “but all of this is very focused on the Catholic view of what it means to be a human, made in the image and likeness of God.”
Yost added that the R1 designation is not a goal in itself, but signifies the direction of the university.
CUA will continue its partnerships with NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Energy, and build new partnerships with more foundations, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
