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Topic: Nebraska kicked out of AAU
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L.C.
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Posted: 5/8/2011 1:31 AM
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The American Association of Universities, a prestigious organization of research universities this week voted to kick the University of Nebraska out, the first time anyone has been kicked out.  One reason Nebraska was allowed into the Big Ten(dozen) was that they, like the other eleven, were members of the AAU. The head of the committee to kick them out, interestingly enough, was from the University of Texas. In order to decide that UNL did not have sufficient R&D funding, they first excluded all Agriculture related R&D saying it doesn't count, and then excluded all Medical R&D based on the rationale that the Nebraska Medical school is not on the same campus, but is instead in Omaha.

Given that the Big Ten(dozen) is more than an athletic conference, but also has heavy academic interconnections, will this jeopardize Nebraka's admittance into the Big Ten(dozen)? Was this a payback by Texas for leaving the Big Twelve(ten).
mf279801
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Posted: 5/8/2011 1:07 PM
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Sounds a little vindictive to me, automatically discounting all ag and medical related research (which I'm guessing account for a hefty percentage of their, or most any other big-10 school's, research dollars)
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 5/9/2011 8:40 AM
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L.C.,
I've heard for years that the Big 10 is more than an athletic conference but I've never heard a decent explanation of that.  What, exactly, does the Big 10 bring to these schools outside of athletics or vice versa?  And if the Big 10 is some kind of "special" organization are there others that emulate the model?

Aside from that, I suspect that if Nebraska's AAU standing conflicts in any way with the academic standards of the Big 10, we're about to see a quick re-write of those standards to accomodate this sudden reversal of fortune.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/9/2011 11:11 AM
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Don't know the details, but I do know that the University of Chicago is still a member of the Big Ten-Dozen+1.  I don't believe they can vote on athletic issues.  
BattleCat
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Posted: 5/9/2011 12:20 PM
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Bobcatbob wrote:expand_more
L.C.,
I've heard for years that the Big 10 is more than an athletic conference but I've never heard a decent explanation of that.  What, exactly, does the Big 10 bring to these schools outside of athletics or vice versa?  And if the Big 10 is some kind of "special" organization are there others that emulate the model?

Aside from that, I suspect that if Nebraska's AAU standing conflicts in any way with the academic standards of the Big 10, we're about to see a quick re-write of those standards to accomodate this sudden reversal of fortune.


All Big 10 Schools are a part of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), The University of Chicago is a member of this, which is an academic alliance of all Big 10 schools.  UC is no longer a member of the Big10 proper.  This alliance allows for educational and research cooperation among the universities.  The link above should work and give you more insight.  Though not outwardly promoted in the main stream this is what does set the Big10 apart from all other conferences.
perimeterpost
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Posted: 5/9/2011 9:10 PM
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where does OHIO stand in regards to being considere for AAU membership- close?, maybe someday? not a chance in hell?
BattleCat
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Posted: 5/9/2011 10:37 PM
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Cannot say where we are but AAU has only 62 members in America and Canada. I would say (sole opinion only) but the new workload requirements on faculty in the Government's new budget and plans will hurt Ohio's chances, if we had any.
Paul Graham
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Posted: 5/10/2011 1:12 PM
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I know a bit about computer science & engineering research, and my experience has been that Ohio is not known in that space. I think unless priorities shift dramatically, we'll never be known as a research university. Which is OK, focusing on undergraduate education may be the best option.
Jeff Johnson
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Posted: 5/10/2011 2:25 PM
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After reading this article, it's not clear to me why any institution would want to join the AAU:

http://chronicle.com/article/Nebraskas-Ouster-Opens-a/127364/
BattleCat
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Posted: 5/10/2011 8:19 PM
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Such accreditations can be very prestigious and matter to the member schools. This action, which clearly have political payback motives is unusual for this body.
Football Jim
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Posted: 5/10/2011 10:36 PM
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This is just a hunch, and I very well could be wrong, but this might simply be karma at work, or maybe an academic welcome to the Big 10.
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 5/11/2011 8:11 AM
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BattleCat wrote:expand_more
Such accreditations can be very prestigious and matter to the member schools. This action, which clearly have political payback motives is unusual for this body.


I guess it's reassuring to know that when it comes to Universities and football, the BCS and NCAA are in good company in grasping influence and exercising muscle through political actions, glad handing, self aggrandizement and otherwise disdainful practices,
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Posted: 5/11/2011 4:41 PM
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Thanks for that link, Jeff. It sounds from that article that part of UNL's problem was that Perlman failed to make a cogent presentation of reasons why they should be retained. One reason why this action is particularly strange at this time is that the future looks bright for their R&D. In the last decade, as the article makes clear, UNL had some of the fastest growth in the country in R&D, and to assure that the R&D growth continues in the years ahead, UNL a year or two ago purchased the former State Fairgrounds, and is building a brand-new R&D campus. UNL also arranged for Federal dollars to re-route traffic in downtown Lincoln so as to greatly expand the campus, a project that is nearing completion.
Last Edited: 5/11/2011 4:44:12 PM by L.C.
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Posted: 5/11/2011 5:26 PM
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Jeff Johnson wrote:expand_more
After reading this article, it's not clear to me why any institution would want to join the AAU:

http://chronicle.com/article/Nebraskas-Ouster-Opens-a/127364/



"The unprecedented move was fraught with intrigue and politics not typical of staid and collegial academic associations"

'bout choked on that one...
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/11/2011 10:22 PM
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Hey, maybe Ohio could take Nebraska's place in the AAU.  Our research -- particularly at the medical school -- has been increasing at a great rate over the last decade.  We have patents on medicines that are bringing in megabucks on an annual basis.  Our engineering school is set to take off in research as well.  Maybe we only need to get close to some of the movers and shakers in Austin, and we can make this happen!   
Last Edited: 5/11/2011 10:23:14 PM by OhioCatFan
perimeterpost
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Posted: 5/12/2011 11:19 PM
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OU just recived largest donation in history- $105 million to build a medical college in Columbus that will include diabetes research. Thats a good start towards improving research. plus we'll have a branch campus in Columbus, there's got to be a joke in there somewhere.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/30/ohio-university-to-receive-$105-million-donation.html
Last Edited: 5/12/2011 11:20:23 PM by perimeterpost
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/12/2011 11:53 PM
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Just to clarify only about $30 million will be used for the Columbus campus, as the article points out.   The rest will be used to support a football sports medicine program and to bring BCS teams to Peden.  Ok, not really, but read the article and find out what it will be used for.  What a teaser? 
Last Edited: 5/12/2011 11:57:24 PM by OhioCatFan
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 5/13/2011 8:35 AM
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One of the more gratifying and amusing parts of the orignal Dispatch announcement was the tepid reaction from the OSU Medical College Dean or President or whatever title is right.  It was basicaly, "Oh, that's nice, isn't it?  In Columbus, you say?  How nice for them"  Everything short of "D^%$!"
Paul Graham
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Posted: 5/13/2011 12:03 PM
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I love the discussion (from the original article) on how family practitioners are underpayed...

"Fewer students are attracted to family medicine because of the long hours and the relatively low pay.

A 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the average salary for midcareer family-medicine doctors is $185,740. For radiologists, it's $414,875, and orthopedic surgeons make $436,481."

What a racket.

L.C.
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Posted: 5/13/2011 1:51 PM
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Congratulations on the big donation, and the expansion of the Medical School. Research on the Columbus campus won't be counted towards possible AAU membership, if that ever becomes an option, because they only count work done on one campus.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/13/2011 8:50 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
Congratulations on the big donation, and the expansion of the Medical School. Research on the Columbus campus won't be counted towards possible AAU membership, if that ever becomes an option, because they only count work done on one campus.


Well, we do most of our medical research either in our new on-campus research building on the West Green or at the Edison Biotech Research Center (aka Konneker Research Center), also in Athens, on The Ridges.  However, in all fairness L.C., I think this on-the-central-campus requirement only applies if you've made enemies in Austin, Texas.   
David E Brightbill
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Posted: 5/14/2011 5:27 PM
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Diabetes research is currently conducted on campus in Athens, a new facility will be built in Athens to further that research and a new facility to conduct neuromuscular research will also be built in Athens neither location is determined but they will not be in Columbus. Also the Dispatch forgot to mention that this was not only Ohio's largest gift but it  is the largest private donation to any school in Ohio and the 4th largest donation to a medical college in the country. This provides the opportunity for Ohio to become the premier medical college in the country for training family practice physicans DO or MD. It is truly transformational.
Paul Graham
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Posted: 5/15/2011 1:54 PM
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Does McDavis get any credit for this? His behavior seems to have fostered a reputation as an uber-corporate, glad-handing, out of touch executive whose primary concern is raising money. But it's hard to argue with 100 Million dollars. What are people saying in Athens?
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/15/2011 8:43 PM
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People in Athens should be praising McDavis.  He's been an excellent president in hard times.  But some here, especially faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, have made him the poster child for everything they think is wrong about higher education today.  However, McDavis has a thick skin and he continues to do what he think is in the best long range interest of the university.  I've been in his camp since his first day at the helm, and I've not seen anything to change my mind.  We are lucky to have him as our president.
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