SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 6, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The University of Utah is one of the newest members of the Association of American Universities, which for more than 100 years has recognized the most outstanding academic institutions in the nation, officials said.
Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities, announced Wednesday that President Ruth V. Watkins has accepted an invitation to join the association, along with the University of California, Santa Cruz and Dartmouth College, the U of U announced in a press release. The three new members bring the number of AAU institutions to 65.
“AAU’s membership is limited to institutions at the forefront of scientific inquiry and educational excellence,” said Coleman. “These world-class institutions are a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with them as we continue to shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation.”
“We are delighted to be invited to join the Association of American Universities, the most prestigious association in higher education,” said Watkins. “AAU requires its member institutions to be engaged at the highest levels of research, scholarship and education. Our selection as one of AAU’s newest members reflects the excellence the University of Utah has achieved in each of these areas.
“It also is a confirmation of the quality and caliber of our faculty and the innovative work they are doing to advance knowledge and address grand societal challenges,” Watkins added. “This will open new paths for our researchers and our institution to be at the forefront of higher education research, education, programs and policies.”
AAU invitations are infrequent; this year’s invitations are the first since 2012.
“Our students and our community will be the ultimate beneficiaries of these endeavors,” Watkins said. “I want to thank the association for recognizing the tremendous progress of the University of Utah in achieving comprehensive excellence and filling its role as our state’s flagship research institution.”
