quote:
Care to elaborate? Tier 1 is a designation among rankings, most notably USNWR.
They're trying to become Tier 1 in the eyes of the THECB ($150 million research expenditures, 100+ annual doctorates, 15+ doctoral disciplines), the Carnegie Foundation (RU/VH, similar requirements), the AAU (neither are going to be invited anytime soon), and the CMUP.
USNWR has nothing to do with it. If you thumb through all that UH has published on the issue (which I more or less have, my first job after undergrad was at UH, so I have some interest in what they're doing), I doubt you would find USNWR mentioned even once.
It's likely if and when UH or Tech declare "Mission Accomplished", they'll both still be Tier 4 and Tier 3 by USNWR, though UH (not sure about Tech) has set in place objectives to increase average SAT scores, retention rates, grad rates, etc. comparable to UT/A&M, so it's possible they may get a bump in USNWR. It's not the main objective, though. USNWR's system isn't very credible IMO, anyway.
UH is currently well ahead of Tech. They've got a hell of a driven leader in Khator, who is a proven and prolific fundraiser, and if and when she gets the Houston business community more behind them, they'll blow Tech away.
[This message has been edited by AgMBA09 (edited 7/8/2010 12:21a).]