Apply for APLU’s Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Designation; Letter of Intent Due September 29

APLU is currently accepting applications from member institutions interested in pursuing the Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University Designation, which recognizes universities that are leaders in spurring and promoting regional economic development and engagement. Participating institutions complete a rigorous self-study of their economic engagement enterprise and earn APLU’s IEP university designation if enough benchmarks are met. Institutions that earn the designation are then eligible to apply for APLU’s IEP University Awards, which recognize leaders in the categories of Talent, Innovation, Place, and Connections. Throughout the process, designated campuses as well as institutions seeking the designation are given access to the Learning Exchange – a platform for learning, sharing, and engaging with peers in university economic engagement.

In order to formally begin the process of seeking the IEP university designation, an institution’s president/chancellor must send a formal letter of intent to APLU President Peter McPherson (template available on request) by September 29, 2017. Once received, the institution becomes part of the IEP startup cohort – institutions that are actively seeking the IEP designation. An institution has three years from the point of entering the startup cohort to apply for the IEP designation. Full details regarding the designation process, timeline, and guidelines as well as a recording of an informational webinar can be found on here.

Interested institutions are also encouraged to participate in IEP startup cohort conference calls. Contact Shalin Jyotishi at sjyotishi@aplu.org to learn more.