Thanks for your reply Hazlit! Indeed, my post was talking about contexts in which research is expected, funded, and supported. My argument was that in those contexts, my we need to dream bigger.

In contexts where research might not be expected, funded, or supported, there are entirely different problems. Many of my friends, colleagues, collaborators, and former PhD students are at these institutions, and I went to one similar for my undergrad. So I feel pretty familiar with the contexts.

Despite their differences from R1s, however, there is a different kind of thinking bigger such institutions need to do, especially about teaching. The private world is actively trying to disrupt higher education; students are increasingly questioning the value of college, with three years of declining enrollments; and while government continues to invest in the big research universities, everywhere is in a pretty fraught situation. I'm sure you live this daily, as my friends, colleagues, collaborators, and students do. So no, maybe not bigger dreams about research, but definitely bigger dreams about colleges, universities, and higher education.