[AATL]

Not sure where to put this but figured some of you would find it interesting. Only 4 FBS schools pays professors less than Liberty.

It’s impressive if you knew how much LU paid professors at the turn of the century

That was back in the days LU was millions in debt. I think we can afford to pay more now. As our founder said, "If its Christian, it ought to be better."

It also doesn't account for the lack of tenure and one-year contracts.

[Ill flame]

It’s been awhile so I decided to revisit this topic. For 2025 carnegie decided to change their criteria for R1 status. Instead of it being subjective, the standard is objective and is set at $50 million in research spending and 70 doctoral research degrees. The R2 threshold has stayed the same at $5 million in research spending and at least 20 doctoral research degrees.

Looking at the database Carnegie uses to determine how many doctoral research degrees each school has issued during the most recent year data is available LU had well over 1000 so we blow that standard out of the water.

In FY 23 LUs research spending was at $1.9 million according to that database. That same year the school reported spending $2.5 million on research on their taxes so it must not all count toward carnegies purposes. The database didn’t have FY24 data but the school is reporting $5.4 million in research spending last year. We seem to be on the verge of R2 status within the next couple years.

[Purple Haize]

It’s been awhile so I decided to revisit this topic. For 2025 carnegie decided to change their criteria for R1 status. Instead of it being subjective, the standard is objective and is set at $50 million in research spending and 70 doctoral research degrees. The R2 threshold has stayed the same at $5 million in research spending and at least 20 doctoral research degrees.

Looking at the database Carnegie uses to determine how many doctoral research degrees each school has issued during the most recent year data is available LU had well over 1000 so we blow that standard out of the water.

In FY 23 LUs research spending was at $1.9 million according to that database. That same year the school reported spending $2.5 million on research on their taxes so it must not all count toward carnegies purposes. The database didn’t have FY24 data but the school is reporting $5.4 million in research spending last year. We seem to be on the verge of R2 status within the next couple years.

IMO this is more important to the long term stability and credibility of LU than athletics.

[Ill flame]

Absolutely. It’s also the most significant thing the school can do in the short term to get us into a better conference. As Boise st is learning the hard way, fiesta bowl appearances will only take you so far with getting approval of other university presidents.

[cruzan_flame13]

Absolutely. It’s also the most significant thing the school can do in the short term to get us into a better conference. As Boise st is learning the hard way, fiesta bowl appearances will only take you so far with getting approval of other university presidents.

UTEP gain R1 status this past February and is now headed to the MWC. Some of the schools in the AAC obtained that status as well (UNC Charlotte/FAU). I think LU has the lowest classification in the entire CUSA.

[Ill flame]

Of note BYU and SMU gained R1 status this year. That means the only two P4s that’s R2 is TCU and wake forest. Even all of the former power conference teams (UConn, USF, Oregon st, Washington st) are R1.

R2 would be a big step forward but R1 should be the goal.

[cruzan_flame13]

Of note BYU and SMU gained R1 status this year. That means the only two P4s that’s R2 is TCU and wake forest. Even all of the former power conference teams (UConn, USF, Oregon st, Washington st) are R1.

R2 would be a big step forward but R1 should be the goal.

Not sure that LU will ever consider aiming for R1, considering that online in the main focus. I'd be surprised if they would even gain R2 status before 2030, so reaching R1 is unfortunately far fetched since residential research funding is still low. I could be wrong and would gladly accept it for obvious reasons.

[TH Spangler]

R1 Harvard University has introduced a new introductory math course called Math MA5, designed to address gaps in foundational algebra skills among its incoming students. This marks a significant shift for the prestigious Ivy League institution, which has historically been associated with academic rigor and elite admissions standards. It focuses on reinforcing basic algebra, geometry, and quantitative reasoning—skills typically taught in high school—rather than more advanced topics like calculus.

The move reflects a broader trend in higher education, where institutions are adapting to varying levels of student preparedness. While remedial courses are common at community colleges, their introduction at an elite university like Harvard has fueled debates about academic readiness, admissions criteria, and the long-term impact of educational disruptions.