ELON COLLEGE, N.C. – Elon College has been reclassified as a Master’s I (comprehensive) institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Elon was previously a Master’s II institution. The new classifications, released Aug. 7, are a sweeping revision of a classification system of the nation’s colleges and universities that was last changed in 1994.
The new classification system emphasizes teaching and number of degrees awarded rather than research or selectivity in admissions. About 640 of the nation’s 3,856 higher education institutions changed categories, including 15 in North Carolina. Institutions look to the classification as one measure of their identity and mission, and the classification is also used to set categories for college rankings such as the one produced by U.S. News & World Report.
“We believe the new classification is a true reflection of Elon’s comprehensive nature,” said President Leo M. Lambert. “Master’s I institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate programs and are also committed to graduate education. In 2000, Elon awarded more than 65 master’s degrees in business administration, education and physical therapy.”
The Carnegie Foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., created its first classification in 1970. This revision is a precursor to a more extensive and fundamental change scheduled for 2005, when the Carnegie Classification will be replaced with a series of classifications that will better reflect the commonalities and differences among colleges and universities.
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