What does the acronym stand for?
Association of American Universities. The group, based in Washington, D.C., describes itself as an association of leading public and private research universities in the United States, plus the University of Toronto and McGill University in Quebec. Its members collected 54 percent of all federally funded U.S. research awards in 2008.
What is its purpose?
The AAU is a powerful networking and lobbying group representing the nation's most prestigious universities. It serves as a networking organization for top officers in major research institutions. It is not an academic accrediting agency or a grant-awarding agency.
How much did the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pay to belong?
$80,000 per year in dues.
How long was UNL a member?
Since 1909. UNL is the only institution to be voted out in the AAU's 111-year history.
How do colleges or universities become members?
Membership is by invitation only and requires a three-fourths majority vote of the association. Since 2000 the group has used a system of indicators to evaluate potential members. The amount of research funding received by a university is an important factor.
How many members does the AAU have now?
With the ouster of UNL, the group has 62 members.
How has the organization's membership changed in recent years?
The group has added three members since 2001, most recently Georgia Tech in 2010. Three members, including UNL, left during approximately the same time period. A fourth, Syracuse University in upstate New York, has announced it will voluntarily depart in coming months.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
