Abstract
Regional Public Universities (RPUs) advance public good missions to foster postsecondary access, student-centeredness, and regional wellbeing. Despite the important contributions that RPUs make to their regions and students, scholars and the media often view the sector as amorphous and undistinguished, or they define RPUs by what they are not (e.g., elite, selective, community colleges, etc.). This sequential mixed methods research study grounded in organizational ecology theory and involving content analysis and cluster analysis proposes a typology of RPUs. Specifically, five RPU types are proposed: accessible, midsized master’s-degree granting RPUs; regionally focused Historically Black Colleges and Universities; rural-serving and CUNY RPUs; large, urban regional-serving RPUs; and Puerto Rican Hispanic-serving RPUs. This study significantly advances conceptual understanding about RPUs by disrupting deficit-based understandings about the sector being shapeless and amorphous by showing that the sector contains distinct institutional types that represent unique approaches to fulfilling the RPU public good mission. This typology is also among the first to document the institutional diversity of RPUs.
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Notes
When we use the term ‘institutional diversity,’ we are referring to existence of different types of institutions, which exhibit unique institutional traits (such as degrees offered and regional location), within sectors and within the broader postsecondary system. When we refer to the diversity found in campus student bodies, we use specific demographic descriptors such as students’ income status and racial identity.
A List of all variables we used can be found in Table 2.
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Appendix: Full Cluster Results
Appendix: Full Cluster Results
Cluster 1: Regionally-Focused HBCU’s
Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Delaware State University
University of the District of Columbia
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Fort Valley State University
Savannah State University
Grambling State University
Southern University and A&M College
Southern University at New Orleans
Coppin State University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Morgan State University
Alcorn State University
Jackson State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Harris-Stowe State University
Lincoln University (MO)
University of Missouri?St. Louis
SUNY Empire State College
North Carolina A&T State University
Winston-Salem State University
Central State University
Langston University
Lincoln University (PA)
South Carolina State University
Tennessee State University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas Southern University
Norfolk State University
Virginia State University
Bluefield State College
West Virginia State University
University of the Virgin Islands
University of Puerto Rico?Mayaguez
Cluster 2: Accessible, Mid-sized, Master’s-Degree Granting RPU’s
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Athens State University
Jacksonville State University
University of North Alabama
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Central Arkansas
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
University of Arkansas?Fort Smith
California State University?Bakersfield
California State University?Stanislaus
California State University?San Bernardino
California State University?Chico
California State University?Dominguez Hills
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Colorado State University Pueblo
University of North Florida
The University of West Florida
Columbus State University
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southern University
Gordon State College
Valdosta State University
University of West Georgia
Idaho State University
Eastern Illinois University
Governors State University
Illinois State University
Northern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University?Carbondale
Southern Illinois University?Edwardsville
Western Illinois University
Ball State University
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Indiana University?Purdue University?Indianapolis
University of Southern Indiana
Indiana State University
Indiana University?South Bend
Indiana University?Northwest
Indiana University?Southeast
University of Northern Iowa
Emporia State University
Fort Hays State University
Pittsburgh State University
Washburn University
Wichita State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Morehead State University
Murray State University
Northern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Louisiana State University?Shreveport
McNeese State University
University of New Orleans
Nicholls State University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Frostburg State University
Towson University
University of Massachusetts?Boston
University of Massachusetts?Dartmouth
Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Ferris State University
Grand Valley State University
University of Michigan?Dearborn
University of Michigan?Flint
Northern Michigan University
Oakland University
Saginaw Valley State University
Wayne State University
Western Michigan University
Bemidji State University
Minnesota State University?Mankato
Metropolitan State University
University of Minnesota?Crookston
University of Minnesota?Duluth
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Saint Cloud State University
Southwest Minnesota State University
Winona State University
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Central Missouri
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Western State University
University of Missouri?Kansas City
Northwest Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Missouri State University?Springfield
Chadron State University
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Peru State College
Wayne State College
Rowan University
New Jersey City University
Kean University
Montclair State University
Thomas Edison State University
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Farmingdale State College
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Dickinson State University
Mayville State University
Minot State University
University of North Dakota
North Dakota State University
Valley City State University
University of Akron Main Campus
Bowling Green State University?Main Campus
University of Cincinnati?Clermont College
Cleveland State University
Kent State University at Kent
Miami University?Hamilton
Miami University?Middletown
Ohio University?Main Campus
Shawnee State University
University of Toledo
Wright State University?Main Campus
Wright State University?Lake Campus
Youngstown State University
Cameron University
University of Central Oklahoma
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southern Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania?Main Campus
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Black Hills State University
Dakota State University
Northern State University
South Dakota State University
University of South Dakota
Austin Peay State University
East Tennessee State University
University of Memphis
Middle Tennessee State University
The University of Tennessee?Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee?Martin
Angelo State University
Texas A&M University?Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University?Texarkana
Texas A&M University?Commerce
University of Houston?Clear Lake
University of Houston?Downtown
University of Houston?Victoria
Lamar University
Texas A&M International University
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Sam Houston State University
Stephen F Austin State University
Texas State University
Sul Ross State University
Tarleton State University
Texas A&M University?Kingsville
The University of Texas at Tyler
The University of Texas Permian Basin
West Texas A&M University
James Madison University
Old Dominion University
Radford University
Central Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Western Washington University
Concord University
Fairmont State University
Marshall University
University of Wisconsin?Milwaukee
California State University?San Marcos
California State University?Monterey Bay
Florida Gulf Coast University
California State University?Channel Islands
Middle Georgia State University
University of North Texas at Dallas
Kennesaw State University
Purdue University Northwest
Cluster 3: Rural-Serving and CUNY RPUs
Auburn University at Montgomery
University of West Alabama
University of Montevallo
University of South Alabama
Troy University
Northern Arizona University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas Tech University
Henderson State University
California Polytechnic State University?San Luis Obispo
California State University Maritime Academy
Humboldt State University
Sonoma State University
Adams State University
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Mountain College
Fort Lewis College
Colorado Mesa University
University of Northern Colorado
Western Colorado University
Central Connecticut State University
Charter Oak State College
Eastern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University
College of Central Florida
Chipola College
Daytona State University
Florida SouthWestern State College
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Indian River State College
State College of Florida?Manatee?Sarasota
Miami Dade College
Northwest Florida State College
Polk State College
St Petersburg College
Albany State University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
College of Coastal Georgia
Clayton State University
Dalton State College
Georgia College & State University
Boise State University
University of Idaho
Lewis-Clark State College
Chicago State University
University of Illinois Springfield
Indiana University?Kokomo
Indiana University?East
Kentucky State University
Louisiana State University?Alexandria
Louisiana Tech University
University of Maine at Augusta
University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Fort Kent
University of Maine at Machias
Maine Maritime Academy
University of Maine at Presque Isle
University of Southern Maine
University of Baltimore
Bowie State University
Salisbury University
St. Mary?s College of Maryland
Bridgewater State University
Fitchburg State University
Framingham State University
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Salem State University
Westfield State University
Worcester State University
Lake Superior State University
University of Minnesota?Morris
Delta State University
Mississippi University for Women
Truman State University
Montana State University Billings
Montana Technological University
Montana State University
University of Montana
The University of Montana?Western
Great Basin College
Keene State College
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Plymouth State University
Granite State College
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Stockton University
The College of New Jersey
Eastern New Mexico University?Main Campus
New Mexico Highlands University
Northern New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University
CUNY Medgar Evers College
CUNY New York City College of Technology
CUNY York College
Fashion Institute of Technology
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
SUNY Morrisville
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Buffalo State
SUNY Cortland
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY College at Geneseo
State University of New York at New Paltz
SUNY Oneonta
SUNY College at Oswego
SUNY College at Potsdam
SUNY at Purchase College
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
SUNY Maritime College
Appalachian State University
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
North Carolina Central University
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Western Carolina University
Kent State University at Trumbull
Kent State University at Tuscarawas
Kent State University at Salem
Ohio State University?Lima Campus
Ohio State University?Mansfield Campus
Ohio State University?Marion Campus
Ohio State University?Newark Campus
East Central University
Northeastern State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Rogers State University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Eastern Oregon University
Oregon Institute of Technology
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh?Bradford
University of Pittsburgh?Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh?Johnstown
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island College
College of Charleston
Citadel Military College
Francis Marion University
Lander University
University of South Carolina Aiken
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Coastal Carolina University
University of South Carolina?Upstate
Winthrop University
Tennessee Technological University
Brazosport College
Midwestern State University
Texas Woman?s University
Dixie State University
Southern Utah University
Utah Valley University
Weber State University
Castleton University
Northern Vermont University
Vermont Technical College
Christopher Newport University
Longwood University
University of Mary Washington
The University of Virginia?s College at Wise
Virginia Military Institute
Columbia Basin College
The Evergreen State College
Glenville State College
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Shepherd University
West Liberty University
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
University of Wisconsin?Whitewater
University of Wisconsin?Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin?Green Bay
University of Wisconsin?La Crosse
University of Wisconsin?Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin?Parkside
University of Wisconsin?Stout
University of Wisconsin?Superior
University of Wisconsin?Platteville
University of Wisconsin?River Falls
University of Wisconsin?Stevens Point
New College of Florida
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Georgia Gwinnett College
Texas A&M University?San Antonio
University of North Georgia
South Georgia State College
Florida Polytechnic University
Texas A&M University?Central Texas
University of Wisconsin?Milwaukee Flex
Cluster 4: Large, Urban-Serving MSIs
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Southeast
California State Polytechnic University?Pomona
California State University?Fresno
California State University?Fullerton
California State University?East Bay
California State University?Long Beach
California State University?Los Angeles
California State University?Northridge
California State University?Sacramento
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii?West Oahu
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Rutgers University?Camden
Rutgers University?Newark
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
CUNY Brooklyn College
College of Staten Island CUNY
CUNY City College
CUNY Graduate School and University
CUNY Hunter College
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY Queens College
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Portland State University
University of Guam
Northern Marianas College
University of Washington?Bothell Campus
University of Washington?Tacoma Campus
Nevada State College
University of California?Merced
Cluster 5: Puerto Rican, Hispanic-Serving RPUs
Colegio Universitario de San Juan
University of Puerto Rico?Aguadilla
University of Puerto Rico?Arecibo
University of Puerto Rico?Bayamon
University of Puerto Rico?Carolina
University of Puerto Rico?Cayey
University of Puerto Rico?Humacao
University of Puerto Rico?Utuado
University of Puerto Rico?Ponce
University of Puerto Rico?Rio Piedras
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Orphan, C.M., Wetherbee, M. & Duncan, B.C. A Proposed Typology of Regional Public Universities. Res High Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-024-09782-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-024-09782-x