UC close to becoming a member of the AAU (2024)

Just because they kicked out two, does that necessarily mean they'll replace them?

[quote id="3110631"]Just because they kicked out two, does that necessarily mean they'll replace them? [/quote]No clue. Just posted what Provost Ono put out there.

That's big time. The academic profile of the University is moving up... it's been quite clear during the transformation that it's going to take longer to change the perception within the greater tri-state area than it will throughout the rest of the country. It's in many ways a lot like the situation with downtown Cincinnati... the area is taking great steps to clean itself up and improve but many that have lived here all their lives refuse to let go of past perceptions.

If it happens, it is a pretty major accomplishment. Correct me if I am wrong, but that was the item that was frequently pointed out to me as keeping us out of the Big Ten conversation. Not that I necessarily want in the Big Ten, but moreso to point out the significance of this (potential) achievement.

More from Provost Ono's facebook page.Membership in the AAU is being closely scrutinized. Syracuse has decided to withdraw before being asked to leave as was the case with Nebraska. Here are the reasons: Syracuse's funding is only about $30 million per annum. Nebraska is only a little over$120 million. UC's at $443 million, Alabama at $300 million and Boston University close behind. UC, Alabama and BU have more research funding than 19 of the 60 current members of the AAU (such as Brandeis, StonyBrook, Indiana University...). UC is right at the heals of Emory in total funding. Since AAU places a focus on research, UC is making a strong case that we belong in the AAU.

[quote id="3112586"]If it happens, it is a pretty major accomplishment. Correct me if I am wrong, but that was the item that was frequently pointed out to me as keeping us out of the Big Ten conversation. Not that I necessarily want in the Big Ten, but moreso to point out the significance of this (potential) achievement.[/quote]You are correct. The interesting thing is Nebraska will be out of the AAU when they officially compete in the B10.

I believe that would make Nebraska the only member of the Big 10 that isn't an AAU member. That's more than a little ironic.For UC to gain AAU membership would mean the culmination of a goal that has been a generation in the making. What gaining an invitation to the Big East meant to UC athletics, that's comparable to what membership in the AAU would mean at an overall university level.

[quote id="3112763"]You are correct. The interesting thing is Nebraska will be out of the AAU when they officially compete in the B10. [/quote]Agree. Also interesting on the Big Ten subject is that Syracuse was often mentioned as a superior candidate than us largely due to their inclusion in the AAU. The irony is delicious.

[quote id="3109866"]I believe that would make Nebraska the only member of the Big 10 that isn't an AAU member. That's more than a little ironic. For UC to gain AAU membership would mean the culmination of a goal that has been a generation in the making. What gaining an invitation to the Big East meant to UC athletics, that's comparable to what membership in the AAU would mean at an overall university level.[/quote]Good analogy. Gotta give props to President Zimpher and her staff on having the vision and for President Williams and his staff for expanding upon that vision. A great academic institution is a huge deal for this region. It will have a positive impact for athletics as well.

Interesting stuff. Would be quite the coup.

[quote id="3109866"][/quote]Getting into the AAU would be a very, very positive development.The academic benefits are obvious.Athletically, this can't be happening at a better time. If conference realignment ever hits the fan, the AAU would be another feather in our cap. IMO this would boost us out of the "could get left out in the cold" category. The B10 and ACC place a premium on academic credentials.

Awesome! I would be a graduate of an AAU college. I need to get my resume updated. [banana]

This post was edited by Bearcatmac 13 years ago

[quote id="3113232"]More from Provost Ono's facebook page. Membership in the AAU is being closely scrutinized. Syracuse has decided to withdraw before being asked to leave as was the case with Nebraska. Here are the reasons: Syracuse's funding is only about $30 million per annum. Nebraska is only a little over$120 million. UC's at $443 million, Alabama at $300 million and Boston University close behind. UC, Alabama and BU have more research funding than 19 of the 60 current members of the AAU (such as Brandeis, StonyBrook, Indiana University...). UC is right at the heals of Emory in total funding. Since AAU places a focus on research, UC is making a strong case that we belong in the AAU.[/quote]Wow! I guess Ono wouldn't be talking so much about it if there wasn't anything to this. This should be a worthwhile story to follow.

[quote id="3115606"]Athletically, this can't be happening at a better time. If conference realignment ever hits the fan, the AAU would be another feather in our cap. IMO this would boost us out of the "could get left out in the cold" category. The B10 and ACC place a premium on academic credentials. [/quote]That is an excellent point. Credentials such as AAU membership and making it onto that list last year of the top 200 universities in the world would really elevate us for those on the academic side of the decision-making, potentially mitigating some of our athletic-side liabilities such as our 35,000-seat home stadium or our relatively compact fan base.

The most recent figure I could find for UC's total research funding is $375,852M. I got this on page 10 of the 2009 report of the Center for University Performance. This numbers typically lag by a couple of years so it is quite possible UC is at 443 M now. Very impressive. http://mup.asu.edu/research2009.pdf

This would be fantastic. One question that occurs to me is how much our funding will suffer from all the cutbacks from the state and how much that could hurt.The only thing hurting UC now is safety and lifestyle issues presented from the surrounding neighborhoods, which of course is why UC has been investing so much in this. Many of you probably saw the article in the paper saturday about the huge housing boom around UC, now focused primarily around Coryville. It was a very revealing article that anyone interested in UC should read. Obviously they're trying to create enough housing that they hope will help spur retail action that will create a critical mass point at which Coryville can be turned around, just like Clifton Hts.But I am concerned that they're putting students right on Short Vine and in another development right behind on Euclid, which could expose students before any critical mass point is reached. At least, this appears to be all private development, so UC won't lose any more dough if students decline to live there.

I tend to think the concerns about crime in the surrounding areas of campus are overblown. The neighborhoods surrounding the UC campus are no more dangerous than the neighborhoods surrounding Ohio State.

I found this on another website. It's the report and correspondence between the AAU and Nebraska. UC now ranks ahead of 13 of the 62 current members of the AAU in terms of its internal rankings. Interesting reading if you have the time. UC is a research power house no doubt about it, and grossly under valued as a university by the U.S. News and World Report and its fuzzy metrics. http://ucommxsrv1.unl.edu/downloadables/pdf/UNLAAU.pdf#correspondence-between-unl-aau

[quote id="3126079"]I tend to think the concerns about crime in the surrounding areas of campus are overblown. The neighborhoods surrounding the UC campus are no more dangerous than the neighborhoods surrounding Ohio State.[/quote]I'm not familiar with OSU's situation, but I find that very hard to believe. What's uniquely bad about our situation is that the worst area, Short Vine, is so close to campus. Even the gas station right across the street from the new practice field has had armed robberies, etc. That's just too close.Having said that, is the reality as bad as the perception? Maybe not, but unfortunately, perceptions matter. Every copy of the NR I saw last fall had front page articles about it, and polls among UC students consistently list it as their major concern. So it's reasonable to assume this negative perception is deterring some quality students from attending UC. Personally, I think UC students are safe off campus as long as they're reasonably careful about where they go.This issue is understandably extremely sensitive for the administration, and I certainly don't enjoy talking about it. I don't think it hurts to mention it here, where not many people are going to read what I have to say. As hopefully more development occurs around campus, this will get much better, but it'll probably take time to fully take hold. In the meantime, I frankly wish UC would hire a couple more cops. Budget problems aside, I think it's worth it.

Short Vine definitely needs to be revitalized. There's just too much character and potential in that district for it to languish the way it has.But the truth is that most urban-based campuses face this perception issue to a degree. Some of the most prestigious Eastern schools are in neighborhoods with far worse problems than those around UC.I can't speak to Ohio State now, but I recall visiting up there on High Street and feeling that the setting of the establishments on the south edge of campus was a place where you ought to show some caution. I would say the same thing, though, might have been true of the perception in the past of one of UC's front doors, the high-visibility stretch along Calhoun Street, when it was a string of bars catering to the students. From a perception perspective then, I believe the Calhoun Street development project was a big image changer for those coming to campus without previous biases about what they should expect.

[quote id="3136255"]I found this on another website. It's the report and correspondence between the AAU and Nebraska. UC now ranks ahead of 13 of the 62 current members of the AAU in terms of its internal rankings. Interesting reading if you have the time. UC is a research power house no doubt about it, and grossly under valued as a university by the U.S. News and World Report and its fuzzy metrics. http://ucommxsrv1.unl.edu/downloadables/pdf/UNLAAU.pdf#correspondence-between-unl-aau[/quote]I like that Waco, "fuzzy metrics" or short for "political".

[quote id="3138924"]I like that Waco, "fuzzy metrics" or short for "political".[/quote][cheers]