Superior research programs attract superior faculty and superior students, which constitute the heart of the university. These students and faculty perform research that enhances the visibility and reputation of the university.
Research is about creating new knowledge.
The core mission of a university is to preserve, transmit and create knowledge. Therefore research has a positive direct impact on the overall intellectual level of the institution, and the undergraduate curriculum. It is classified as a minority institution. It is one of only seven universities in the nation that is a minority institution as well as a Research I University. National and federal laboratories are neighbors and partners in a number of research alliances.