STRATEGIC PLANNING - ON THE RISE

+++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ STRATEGIC +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ PLANNING +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ 5-YEAR STRATEGY ON THE RISE +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) has a proud legacy of “Producing Productive People.” Its legacy of teaching and training teachers, nurses, agriculture experts, and engineers has solidified its stature as a teaching institution. However, the university is evolving into an establishment that expands research enterprise and produces graduate and undergraduate scholars. The ascension to the next level in higher education ranking is the core goal of the Division of Research & Innovation (R&I): to increase Prairie View A&M’s status as an emerging research institution. +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ PVAMU President Ruth Simmons welcomed Magesh Rajan as Vice President of Research & Innovation. Starting from day one, he set out on his mission to elevate the research and innovation enter+++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ prise at PVAMU. Preparing and positioning this historic land-grant university to become an emerging research institution is the focus of Vice President Rajan’s five-year strategic plan for the university.

After restructuring the Division of Research & Innovation and relocating all the services and offices in one building, Rajan commenced executing the next phase of his elevation plan. Beginning in the fiscal year 2021, the primary goal for Prairie View A&M is to earn a Carnegie Classification® as a Research 2 doctoral-granting institution. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities in 1970. The first two categories include only institutions that awarded at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and had at least $5 million in total research expenditures (as reported through the National Science Foundation (NSF).

o R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity o R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity

For a teaching university to elevate to an R2 status, the university must increase its doctoral degree offerings, significantly expand its research portfolio—particularly research expenditures—and Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio; create and cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across campus. An augmented research profile for PVAMU will include adding more research centers and institutes and sustaining and expanding faculty, staff, and student support programs. Achieving these goals continues to be a collaborative, multi-campus process that includes faculty, staff, and student involvement at every phase. R&I led an initial strategic planning summit to collect as much data as possible. The feedback proved to be a great step forward. The response from the campus community was tremendous. Focus sessions were held separately for faculty, research leaders, students, and administrators. Their inputs will be used to shape the next 5-year strategic plan.

And thanks to the dedication of the R&I team, PVAMU administration, faculty, researchers, and staff, and their hard work in the last two years, Rajan reports the university has significantly improved its research expenditures and doctoral awards. This achievement is significant. It demonstrates the university is achieving these targets significantly earlier than envisioned. Vice President Rajan’s vision was to achieve this category in five to six years. However, PVAMU will achieve this goal earlier than planned. This distinction will significantly add to the visibility of Prairie View A&M University and the research caliber faculty undertake on our campus.