Research Excellence

This initiative aims to identify and launch activities that will increase national and international recognition of UTSA as an institution of research excellence and to earn the status as a Research Intensive University, as identified by the National Research University Fund and Carnegie Classifications. Strategies aim to increase the institution's annual research expenditures, increase the pipeline and success of doctoral students, support UTSA’s faculty to achieve national research recognitions and the recruitment of National Academy members to UTSA.

View the Initiative Brief

Since launching this Strategic Initiative in 2018, UTSA has vastly expanded and grown its research portfolio, more than doubling its total research expenditures over the last five years.

• In December 2021, The University of Texas at San Antonio achieved the R1 Classification (“very high research activity”), sometimes referred to as Tier One or Top Tier, from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This elite designation validates the breadth and strength of UTSA’s knowledge enterprise and aligns the university with the nation’s top public and private research institutions.
  
  
• In August 2023, UTSA met the State of Texas’ eligibility criteria to participate in the National Research University Fund (NRUF) and successfully passed the audit by the State Auditor’s Office. This milestone solidified UTSA’s position as a university capable of tackling society’s grandest challenges on local, state and national scales.
  
  
• In November 2023, JoAnn Browning, interim vice president for research, economic development, and knowledge enterprise, completed an extensive internal review of the current divisional structure and announced a realignment plan to maximize efficiency, better serve our researchers and reflect best practices with our aspirant peers. 

• Based on extensive stakeholder feedback, UTSA’s research division will reorganize into three main departments: Research Partnerships and Strategy, Research Administration, and Faculty Research Development. This realignment will help the division advance the development of our knowledge enterprise, nurture our Carnegie R1 research environment and bolster our service-centered support system. It will also provide opportunities for new leadership roles for faculty and staff. To reflect this realignment and our Tier One research culture, we will expand under a new name: UTSA Office of Research.

Destination Two: Great Public Research University