OLD DOMINION MOVES UP IN CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION

Old Dominion recently moved up in the Carnegie Foundation classification system, which groups the nation's colleges and universities with similar programs. It was developed in the early 1970s to aid research on higher education.

Under a new classification system instituted recently by the Carnegie Foundation, Old Dominion has been placed in the Doctoral/Research Universities -- Extensive category, the highest of two classifications for the country's doctoral-granting institutions. Schools in this group offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs and are committed to graduate education through the doctorate, awarding 50 or more doctoral degrees per year in at least 15 disciplines.

During the academic years 1995-96 through 1997-98, on which the foundation based its latest classifications, Old Dominion offered doctoral degrees in 19 different disciplines and awarded an average of 75 doctoral degrees annually.

"This is another signpost along the way that points to our maturation as an institution with respected doctoral programs and faculty," President James V. Koch said of the classification.

In Virginia, only three other universities are in the Doctoral/Research Universities -- Extensive category: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Classified as Doctoral/Research Universities -- Intensive were the College of William and Mary, George Mason University and Virginia Union University. Prior to this year's change in the classification system, the Carnegie Foundation had four categories of doctoral-granting institutions: Research Universities I and II and Doctoral Universities I and II.