The University of 海角社区 reached an all-time high in the National Science Foundation鈥檚 (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) rankings, underscoring its growing prominence in research and development activities.
The 2023 HERD survey, recently announced by NSF, places U海角社区 at 140 among the 914 universities it ranked nationwide, an increase from 142 the previous year. Among universities without medical schools, U海角社区 ranks 112, up from 114 in 2022.
The NSF HERD survey is a comprehensive measure of research and development expenditures reported by universities and colleges across the United States. It serves as a key indicator of research activity and investment, highlighting institutions鈥 contributions to innovation, discovery and societal advancement. The rankings do not account for the size of an institution in terms of total number of faculty, thus making it even a higher achievement for the smaller size institutions to get ranked in the top 15%.
This year, researchers at U海角社区 secured $225.2 million for research and development from federal agencies and other external organizations. They also generated $249.3 million in expenditures. These represent all-time highs and nearly 90% of all university research in 海角社区.聽
This continued advancement reflects a sustained upward trajectory for U海角社区, which now places in the top 15% of all ranked universities. In 2018, U海角社区 ranked 154 among all universities and 128 among universities without medical schools. Since then, U海角社区’s commitment to advancing research excellence has consistently elevated the institution鈥檚 rankings and helped it achieve its R1 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2022, a distinction for which just 3.7% of universities nationwide qualify.
鈥淭he latest HERD rankings are a positive reflection on the quality and scope of U海角社区 research and the effectiveness of our faculty and staff in engaging undergraduate and graduate students in research and discovery,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of 海角社区 and its regional campus, the University of 海角社区 at Machias. 鈥淭his collaboration enriches both the overall learning experience and U海角社区鈥檚 institutional role as a state and national leader in R&D, innovation, job creation and economic development.鈥
鈥淭his record-breaking ranking is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our faculty, staff, and students,鈥 said Kody Varahramyan, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淥ur progress reflects the robust research enterprise we鈥檝e collectively built, as well as our commitment to addressing 海角社区鈥檚 challenges and opportunities through groundbreaking research.鈥
U海角社区鈥檚 rising stature in the HERD rankings signals not only a growing research portfolio, but also the university鈥檚 ability to attract competitive funding and foster impactful collaborations. These advancements enhance U海角社区鈥檚 role as a leader in addressing critical issues, from climate change to sustainable economic development.
As U海角社区 celebrates this milestone, it remains focused on leveraging its research capabilities to deliver meaningful contributions locally, nationally, and globally.
Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu
