Three Institutions Named APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designees

The University of California San Diego, Kansas State University, and the University of New Hampshire have been named APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designees. Leaders from all three campuses were recognized during the 2017 APLU Annual Meeting in Washington, DC for their exemplary work in economic engagement.

APLU’s Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity (CICEP) established the Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Universities program to recognize and celebrate institutions that are exemplary in their contributions to regional economic development and resiliency through their work in economic engagement. Economic engagement holistically refers to university efforts that promote innovation and entrepreneurship, excellence in in technology transfer, leadership in talent and workforce development, establishing strong government-university-industry partnerships, and fostering community and “place” development through public service, engagement and outreach.

To date 58 institutions have earned the IEP University designation. Participating institutions complete a rigorous self-study of their economic engagement enterprise and receive the IEP University designation if enough benchmarks are met. Those who earn the designation are then eligible to compete for APLU’s IEP University Awards which are given in the categories of Talent, Innovation, Place and the top-prize Economic Engagement Connections Award. Throughout the designation process and thereafter, institutions learn from one another’s work in economic engagement through APLU’s IEP Learning Exchange. Once designated, institutions continue to learn and benefit from the program through the IEP Learning Exchange. Designated institutions are often times called upon to participate in special opportunities and events including national and international speaking engagements, tours of federal agencies/national organizations and other initiatives undertaken by APLU and partner organizations to advance and elevate the profile university economic engagement.