Moving from a “master’s level” to a “doctoral/high research” institution as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education carries with it numerous benefits to JMU students and faculty. Already known for an unusually high level of research opportunities for undergraduates, as well as a university where faculty who want to pursue new knowledge and teach will thrive, JMU’s new classification will consolidate and strengthen our unique position. What’s more, this new classification triggers our move from the regional to national rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” The vision guiding The Madison Plan — the university’s strategic plan in place from 2014 to 2020 — was to become a national model, and this leap is evidence that we are making solid gains toward that vision.
