GREENSBORO, N.C. — A university in our state has its sights on the country’s highest research classification.

N.C. A&T is striving to earn R1 status, which means “very high research activity.” It’s one of three classifications for doctoral-granting universities.

Dr. Salil Desai said the university is working to change that. He’s been a professor at the university for 20 years. 

“So, the R1 status is the highest that a university can attain in terms of the Carnegie classifications,” Desai said.

Only 4% of U.S. universities hold the designation, and they are all predominantly white institutions. In the past two decades, not one of the 146 R1 schools has been an Historically Black College and University. 

Desai said they have several initiatives in place to reach that goal.

“One of the primary initiatives is investing in our infrastructure, investing in our faculty, our students, really investing in newer programs which will go beyond the traditional STEM fields,” Desai said.

Which he said will have a long-lasting impact. 

“R1 status will actually amplify our growth and the potential which A&T has had over the last several decades, bringing to light new areas of opportunity for our students and the community,” Desai said.

N.C. A&T is looking to gain R1 status by the end of the decade. 

The only other public universities in the state with the status are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C State.