On Thursday afternoon the Association of American Universities announced six new programs have joined its membership.
Why is that important? Well, the Big Ten requires all of its members to be AAU representatives, which means any school not in the AAU also can’t become a member of the Big Ten.
So which schools joined the AAU today? That list includes schools like Arizona State, Miami and Notre Dame. The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish are interesting additions, considering several conferences could be interested in adding the school.
University of Miami President Julio Frenk opened up on what this means for the school:
“Today is a great day for all of us who love and support the University of Miami. This designation acknowledges a transformational level of activities and outcomes in research, graduate and undergraduate education, and other areas that demonstrate compelling performance across the institution.
As a group of affiliated institutions with common and complementary characteristics, the AAU offers an invaluable network across higher education and beyond. Whether we are looking at innovation and discovery, the dissemination of knowledge and promotion of understanding, the celebration of our diverse and unique experiences, or the contributions of higher education to evidence-based public policies, best practices, and upward social mobility, our work is rooted in one enlightening purpose: to change people’s lives and our shared planet for the better.”
With Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC and UCLA and USC joining the Big Ten, conference realignment isn’t going away.
Could Miami be next after this move?