Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Carnegie Grants R2 Status to East Texas A&M

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/20/25

East Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas, recently announced that it has been designated a Research 2 (R2) institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, according to a news release. The R2 designation took effect on February 13 and marks the university’s commitment to research and innovation among both the Texas A&M University System and universities around the country.

The news release reports that requirements for R2 institutions include awarding at least 20 research doctoral degrees annually and showing at least $5 million in total research and development spending. East Texas A&M reported an average of 64 research doctoral degrees per year between 2020 and 2023, and it spent over $7 million on research in 2023.

The designation comes after years of positioning the university toward that goal by educating faculty and staff on research and grant opportunities and strengthening university research infrastructure. The university reports that as of 2025, there are a total of 139 R2 institutions in the U.S. Of those, 16 are in Texas.

“This prestigious designation for East Texas A&M University shows that investing in faculty and facilities really pays off,” said John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “This is the return on investments made by the Texas Legislature and the Texas A&M System's Board of Regents. This success reflects a focus on growing research budgets at all 11 universities in the Texas A&M System.”

The university held a ceremony to celebrate the milestone on Friday, Feb. 14.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Schedules Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

    Indiana Wesleyan University recently announced that it will soon open a new Welcome Center on its campus in Marion, Ind., according to a news release. The facility will serve as the home base for prospective students and their families to learn more about the university and student life there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 19.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.