THEPATHTOR1DESIGNATION

Since 2020, the OTT has been actively engaged in Morgan’s strategic goal of reaching Carnegie R1 classification. The Director of OTT, serving as Morgan’s Chief R1 Strategist, works with the VP for Research and Economic Development and the President to support Morgan’s Strategic Goal to achieve a Carnegie placement in the top 50% tier of Doctoral Research Universities (DRU) in the U.S. (R1) by 2030. A “Morgan Roadmap to R1” by 2030 has been developed and is informed by a Morgan duplicate Carnegie model to track Morgan’s ascension to R1 This includes real-time analysis of Morgan’s performance in 10 key Carnegie metrics, and trend analysis compared to other DRU R2/R1 institutions Additionally, in 2022, the OTT developed a proposal resulting in a 5-year $9 million grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) The ONR solicitation was designed to help elevate Carnegie HBCU/MSI R2 institutions to R1 status Proposals were to be focused on a technical area of national importance - in this case AI/ML

Morgan’s R1 goal is not confined by the ten key Carnegie metrics, but to be a highly respected R1 HBCU Doctoral Research University. As such, the R1 team initiated efforts to position Morgan’s R1 story around our major research centers by placements in wellrespected science publications. The office is partnering with internal stakeholders and external partners to create and solidify the narrative of Morgan as a well-respected and well-rounded doctoral research institution. The goal is to expand the reach of Morgan’s successes beyond the greater Baltimore area and the state of Maryland.

Morgan's accession to R1 designation will strengthen the public persona of the University beyond a leading institution for minorities in STEM fields While the designation positions Morgan as a research force, it will also highlight the successes Morgan is achieving in social sciences, business, and beyond The designation will position the University as a wellrounded institution that provides students with an education that allows them compete in all industries and disciplines

The importance of R1 designation for Morgan extends beyond acclaim within the HBCU community It also attracts funding from a federal level and other entities to enhance research opportunities for students and attract prestigious faculty who are leaders in their respective fields. R1 classification will allow the University to grow programs that will continue to provide students with experiential learning opportunities and hands-on experiences that will make them competitive in the evolving landscape of science and technology fields.