Tomorrow’s Needs: Michigan Tech Reaches an Inflection Point
Michigan Technological University’s founding charter calls on us to educate and train a highly skilled workforce prepared to serve the state’s industry needs. Since 1885, we’ve done precisely that. By remaining true to who we’ve always been, we’ve carved out a niche in the upper echelon of higher education — and now the higher ed community is following our lead.
Last year, The Chronicle of Higher Education identified Michigan Tech as an institution scheduled to move from R2 to R1 classification when the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education releases their new criteria in 2025. R1 classification represents the highest level of research productivity for an institute of higher learning. We did not chase this designation by changing who we are or what we do; rather, the market adjusted to us. Our unique expertise will complement that of Michigan’s three other R1 universities and will make the state stronger than ever.
We have reached an important inflection point, one that requires us to move beyond merely showing the world why tomorrow needs Michigan Tech. As leaders in research and education, we must now answer the call to define tomorrow’s needs.
Over the next few months, I will be asking University leaders to consider two important questions: In 2035, what will society’s most pressing questions be? And what are Michigan Tech’s best opportunities for answering those questions? Their essays will be published in a biweekly series called “Tomorrow’s Needs.”
Read the first installment of the “Tomorrow’s Needs” series at Michigan Tech News.