Following some noteworthy growth in 2015, including breaking ground on a new school of marine biology, UMass Dartmouth began the new year on a high note.

On Monday, Jan. 4, UMass Dartmouth was officially designated as a doctoral research university. This designation elevates the school from its previous designation as a master’s university.

Its new status as a doctoral university permits graduate students to undergo Higher Research Activity, the second of three levels for research classifications.

The transformation into a doctoral university has been a long time coming, said Assistant Chancellor for Strategic Communications John Hoey.

“There’s been an evolution of our university that we've seen over the last several years," he said. "Really you can chart it back to the school becoming a part of the UMass system in 1991.”

"UMass Dartmouth's designation as a doctoral research university is an extremely impressive achievement for the university's faculty and students," University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan said in a release. "From marine science that supports our historic fishing industry and protects our fragile coastline to the study of our economy and global cultures, UMass Dartmouth faculty members are creating and sharing new knowledge that strengthens society and adds tremendous value to the education students receive.”

UMass is now one of eight research universities in New England, four of which are located in Massachusetts. UMass is the only Bay State research university located south of Boston. Additionally, UMass’ School of Law is the only public law school in Massachusetts.

“Achieving national designation as a doctoral research university demonstrates the excellence of our faculty and our university’s unyielding dedication to driving innovation that strengthens the quality of life in our region and across the Commonwealth,” said Provost Mohammad Karim. “We are especially proud that our research faculty engage our undergraduate and graduate students in their work, preparing our students to excel in a rapidly changing society and adding great value to a UMass Dartmouth education.”

UMass received its designation as a doctoral university from the national Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education at the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University. In 2008, the Carnegie Foundation designated UMass Dartmouth as a “community engaged” university.

At the university’s core is a “civic engagement soul,” Hoey said.

Hoey said that from the new School of Marine Science and Technology in New Bedford to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Fall River, launched in October 2015, UMass is dedicated to involving its graduate and undergraduate students with local communities to enrich the south coast area.

Recent UMass research highlights include Dr. Yong Kim and Dr. Armand Lewis’ development of concussion-preventing materials; Dr. Catherine Neto finding that feeding cranberry extracts to mice with colon cancer resulted in diminished size and number of tumors; and Dr. Pamela Karimi’s work in an international preservation project to 3D-print priceless artifacts destroyed by ISIS.

“Our goal is to keep developing our research enterprises in a way that cultivates talent in the region,” said Hoey.