<p>There are enormous sums of research dollars that do not go to AAU institutions (as their own charts show). In some states, the universities labeled “state universities” are not members, but receive massive amounts of research dollars (in my state, WSU is a good example.) There are also private universities such as Georgetown, George Washington, American, Boston University, etc. that are not members.</p>
<p>The university is no longer a member of a distinguished organization such as the AAU. Just as it is no longer a member of a distinguished athletic conference.</p>
<p>Can’t win them all, so Legends and Leaders will have to do!</p>
<p>Not every college aspires to the AAU. So, I don’t think the issue is so much who is or is not a member, but the fact that NE was summarily dismissed after a century of membership even tho they wanted to stay. Add to the fact, that this has never happened before…</p>
<p>The problem seems to be that the medical school is not part of the flagship campus, at Lincoln, but administratively, part of the state system. Hence, all of the research money that comes into the med. school is not counted as part of the research money total.</p>
<p>This brings a little smile to me face. I know it’s catty and immature, but I can’t help myself. Many people in this region are nubraska football fans AND kansas basketball fans. Many of them send their children to nubraska (OOS) for its merit-based aide. And for the past few months, they have been telling everyone that the Big 10/then 11/now 12 wanted nubraska because of its “amazing” research reputation, not its football revenue.</p>
<p>There is an arrogance at nubraska that is easily detected by many parents on tours–including several CC posters.</p>
<p>Running joke around here: What does the “N” on the side of the nubraska football helmet stand for? Knowledge, of course.</p>
<p>I think quite a few of the 60-odd universities that remain part of the AAU would be kicked out if their medical schools–some of which are not actually located on the primary campus–were administratively divorced from the university.</p>
<p>The amount of federal money going into medical research is very large, and has increased a lot over recent years. So, other member schools’ research budgets have ballooned, but Nebraska appears to be falling behind. But is it, really?</p>
<p>I think Nebraska has a point when they complain that the vote was taken before the other member reps read the information Nebraska had provided in its defense.</p>
<p>What any of this has to do with football is way beyond me. I think not being part of the AAU could prove to be an impediment for researchers in all fields (not just medicine), and that is a blow to any state flagship university.</p>
<p>AAU should have nothing to with football. But, for some reason, the AAU membership has been front and center in many of the threads dedicated to the greatness of the Big10/20/30. The Leaders and Legends fanboys do not even see the ridicule of discussing the University of Chicago in debates about football.</p>
<p>Really surprised to read this–I interviewed for grad school at UNL last year, and at least that program was phenomenal and incredibly well-respected.</p>
<p>^^^True, although many have big deal engineering schools, which bring in a lot of private research money along with a good deal of federal money. I don’t think I’ve heard much about engineering at Nebraska.</p>
<p>I asked my H about this, since he brings in a good deal of outside research money. He thinks the designation is basically bragging rights, along with providing a convenient short-hand for indicating your institution holds a certain place in the world of academic research; if you hear the phrase “research one” or “research level one” it is the AAU designation that is being referred to. Off hand, he doesn’t think it will be particularly detrimental to those who are already working at the university, although it may hurt recruitment in some fields.</p>