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So as some of you know, I'm in doctoral work at IU. One of my minors is in higher education and I'm working closely with some professors who are really in the "know how" of how this whole academia thing works (the courses are quite fascinating)
Anyway, one of my classes the other day brought up the issue of the AAU in terms of accountability and what weight rankings truly hold in the higher education business. My professor, Director at the National Student Survey of Engagement, seemed pretty certain that the AAU wasn't really going to be adding anyone--but rather probably is going to become a more exclusive club as universities get pushed out. He mentioned that seemingly every university wants to be a research-extensive university these days and that's one of the things that is driving up education costs. Eventually, the model will change and many research universities will alter their focus. As a result, the AAU will be used as one measure of the top research universities that survive.
We all know about Nebraska being pushed out, but I didn't realize Syracuse was pushed out as well in 2011. (https://chronicle.com/article/Syracuse-U-Facing-a-Forced/127363/)
The point I'm trying to make is...I don't think the AAU will invite UConn. Though, I don't think this is important to an eventual invite in the B1G. I think you'll see over the next 10 or so years a few more schools pushed out as the AAU tries to reclaim the "creme de la creme" image of research institutions--and I think a few of the B1G schools are frankly on the chopping block if that's the case.
UConn is doing what it needs to do academically. If they maintain the same path, they're going to look like a great option to the B1G, AAU invite or not.
Anyway, one of my classes the other day brought up the issue of the AAU in terms of accountability and what weight rankings truly hold in the higher education business. My professor, Director at the National Student Survey of Engagement, seemed pretty certain that the AAU wasn't really going to be adding anyone--but rather probably is going to become a more exclusive club as universities get pushed out. He mentioned that seemingly every university wants to be a research-extensive university these days and that's one of the things that is driving up education costs. Eventually, the model will change and many research universities will alter their focus. As a result, the AAU will be used as one measure of the top research universities that survive.
We all know about Nebraska being pushed out, but I didn't realize Syracuse was pushed out as well in 2011. (https://chronicle.com/article/Syracuse-U-Facing-a-Forced/127363/)
The point I'm trying to make is...I don't think the AAU will invite UConn. Though, I don't think this is important to an eventual invite in the B1G. I think you'll see over the next 10 or so years a few more schools pushed out as the AAU tries to reclaim the "creme de la creme" image of research institutions--and I think a few of the B1G schools are frankly on the chopping block if that's the case.
UConn is doing what it needs to do academically. If they maintain the same path, they're going to look like a great option to the B1G, AAU invite or not.