Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige?
Apr 1, 2025
Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President at ACE, leads a critical discussion on the transformative changes to the Carnegie Classifications. He delves into how these new groupings aim to prioritize student access and earnings. The conversation uncovers the potential impact on institutional behavior, funding strategies, and the race for R1 status. Gunja also addresses the challenges of measuring outcomes and the need for clearer metrics to promote equity in higher education.
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New Multidimensional Classification System
- The new Carnegie classifications move beyond degree-based grouping to include research activity and student outcomes like access and earnings.\n- This multidimensional approach aims to better capture institutional differences and focus on student success.
Need for Updated Classification Approach
- The previous system grouped institutions mainly by the highest degree awarded, which poorly reflected contemporary institutional realities.\n- A new classification system was needed to better group like institutions and center student access and outcomes.
Broad Impact of Carnegie Classifications
- Carnegie classifications have been widely used beyond research into rankings, funding, and accountability.\n- Improved institutional groupings are critical since classifications influence significant downstream decisions.