I am excited to share the news that CC has achieved the Research College and University (RCU) designation from the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education (ACE). The new RCU designation recognizes institutions with high levels of research activity and expenditure, even without doctoral programs. The designation is given to non-R1/R2 colleges and universities that spend more than $2.5 million each year on research and development.
CC is one of the 36 primarily undergraduate private colleges honored with this designation. This recognition underscores our dedication to integrating research, teaching, and mentorship, ensuring transformative academic experiences that prepare students for impactful careers and citizenship.
This designation also strengthens our case for expanding science infrastructure, highlights the distinctive undergraduate research opportunities made possible by the Block Plan, and enhances our ability to attract and retain world-class faculty across disciplines.
Kudos to all who contributed to this achievement, especially to the faculty who led research programs and mentored students, librarians who partnered in discovery, staff who provided expert support, facilities team members who maintained our research infrastructure, and importantly, to the students who engaged deeply in research opportunities and pursued presentation and publication of their work. Our talented faculty are teacher-scholars who are active in their research and creative endeavors, holding federal awards of $3.3 million for 21 projects. I also want to give a special shoutout to our team of dedicated staff who provide steadfast support in both grant-seeking and grant administration: Tess Powers, Laura Hines, Janna Jones, Susan Brickell, and Lisa Schwartz.
Research is a team effort, and everyone contributes to an academic ecosystem that supports learning, risk-taking, perseverance, and excellence. Congratulations to the CC community for this achievement—let’s give a proud tiger-paw high-five to each other. Go CC!
