APLU Announce Winners of the 1890 University Teaching, Research and Innovation Awards

APLU’s Council of 1890 Universities today named the 2014 recipients of the 1890 Teaching, Research and Innovation Awards. Now in its second year, the annual honor highlights exemplary achievements at 1890 land-grant institutions by recognizing advances in teaching, research and innovation on 1890 university campuses and encourages further advancement and development in areas of critical importance. The awards were presented during a special reception at the 127th APLU Annual Meeting underway in Orlando, Florida.

The Council of 1890 Universities, which is comprised of presidents and chancellors from APLU member historically black land-grant and public universities, works to strengthen teaching, research and extension programs as well as seeks to maintain, ensure and increase funding at these institutions. The awards are designed to bring exposure to these universities and add to the national dialogue regarding their significance.

Prior to the selection process, self-reported data from the 1890 Universities was submitted in a number of outcome categories (e.g., retention rates, research revenue and expenditures, etc.). Each university was then evaluated among its peers with the winning institution demonstrating the most productivity in a given area.

APLU Vice President for Access and Success John Michael Lee, Jr.: “The 1890 Teaching, Research and Innovation Awards not only serve as a means to recognize the advances of 1890 university campuses in these areas, but serve as a means to tell the story of how black public universities are going above and beyond their call of duty.”

The 1890 Teaching, Research and Innovation Awards Recipients:

The Retention Award
This award was presented to Lincoln University for the largest improvement in retention rates over the last academic year for first year (freshman to sophomore) retention from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

The Degree Completion Award
This award was presented to Kentucky State University for the greatest increase in bachelor’s degrees from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Agriculture Degree Completion Award
This award was presented to Lincoln University for the greatest increase in agriculture bachelor’s degrees from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Education Degree Completion Award
This award was presented to Fort Valley State University because for the greatest increase in teacher education bachelor’s degrees from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

STEM Degree Completion Award
This award was presented to Alcorn State University for the greatest increase in science, technology, engineering and mathematics bachelor’s degrees from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Intellectual Property Award
This award was presented to Fort Valley State University for the largest increase in an intellectual property portfolio (patents, industrial design rights, etc.) from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Innovation Award
This award was presented to North Carolina and A&T State University and the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff for the largest increases in successfully transferring intellectual property into new products, processes, applications, materials or services that have been successfully taken to market from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Research Award
This award was presented to Kentucky State University for the largest increase in federal funding from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

International Research Award
This award was presented to Southern University for the largest increase in international research awards from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Experiential Student Learning Award
This award was presented to Kentucky State University for the largest increase in undergraduate students participating in research and internships that has been proven to increase student persistence to graduation from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

International Students Award
This award was presented to Delaware State University for the largest increase in undergraduate international students from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

International Student Development Award
This award was presented to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for the largest increase in undergraduate students participating in study abroad programs from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Alumni Engagement Award (Number)
This award was presented to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff for the largest increase in donations to the university by alumni from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Alumni Engagement Award (Amount)
This award was presented to West Virginia State University for the largest increase in alumni donations from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014.

Exemplary Alumni Award
This award was presented to West Virginia State University for the single largest donation (monetary or in-kind) to the university from an alumnus during the 2013-2014 academic year.

1890 University of the Year Award
This award was presented to North Carolina A&T State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for the best overall performance in each category from 2012-2013 through 2013-2014. NCA&T and UMES were among the top three in 6 out of 14 categories.