State of the University

[aces1180]

Brescani just announced that NDSU is pursuing AAU status...

Holy. Shit.

[Civil06]

Brescani just announced that NDSU is pursuing AAU status...

Holy. Shit.

Emphasis on the bold. Wow!

[JMB]

NDSU to the Big 10.

[StL Bison Fan]

Not so fast my friend...

In academics

[Civil06]

Here's the whole speech: https://www.ndsu.edu/president/speeches/stateoftheuniversityaddress2015/

This is what it would take to join the AAU:
I believe we are on the path to legitimately being able to pursue membership in the AAU. This is an association of top research universities that are leaders in innovation, scholarship and solutions that contribute to the nation's economy, security and well-being. I believe our scholarly performance already more than meets their standard, and with increased endowment of academic activities, AAU membership will become possible at some foreseeable point in the future. Just a few years ago I would have laughed at that assertion; today it has become quite real.

To that end, I have identified three targets we need to accomplish if we’re to reach AAU status. First, we need to pursue an enrollment of 18,000 students. That number gives us the size needed to be able to broaden our options, but is not so large that we lose our student focus. Second, we need to grow our student scholarship endowment by at least $100 million. And third, we will need to aggressively pursue a substantial increase in endowed chair and faculty positions.

I think this is doable with a great 5-10 year plan in place.

[aces1180]

Not so fast my friend...

In academics

Yeah, that's kind of the point, no?

[bisonaudit]

Looks like we be the smallest public institution in the group.

Nebraska apparently left because they didn't have a medical school and their USDA grants didn't count toward some internal group metrics. Not sure how that's going to go for us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Universities

[StL Bison Fan]

Yeah, that's kind of the point, no?

Yes indeed

[runtheoption]

And of course, the F***ing Fargo Forum's headline is "NDSU's President says he wants enrollment to reach 18,000." Holy shit that is horrible "journalism." That is 1 of the 3 targets identified in reaching the ultimate goal of AAU status.

I am sure the Anti-Imperial Cass folks will have a heyday with that headline. It is not growth of a student body just for the sake of being bigger.

[MNLonghorn10]

http://i.imgur.com/6ADLV4r.gif

[roadwarrior]

Full text of Bresciani's speech:

https://www.ndsu.edu/president/speeches/stateoftheuniversityaddress2015/

[TNbison]

http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23112-What-would-it-take-for-NDSU-to-join-the-AAU

The Bisonator a clairvoyant?

[El_Chapo]

Aau = fbs!! Hell yeah!!!!!!!!

[bisonmike2]

http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23112-What-would-it-take-for-NDSU-to-join-the-AAU

The Bisonator a clairvoyant?

Or is Brescani the TheBisonator?

And for the record, I've never even heard of AAU. Actually, maybe I have but I'm pretty sure I thought it was a summer basketball league for high school kids. Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.

[Bison bison]

Totally insane goal, but what the hell.

[NDSU_grad]

Totally insane goal, but what the hell.

LOL. Exactly my thoughts. Screw naming a building after him if he pulls it off. We'll have to change the name of the university.

[NDSU_grad]

Looks like we be the smallest public institution in the group.

Nebraska apparently left because they didn't have a medical school and their USDA grants didn't count toward some internal group metrics. Not sure how that's going to go for us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Universities

This is sort of correct. They basically got kicked out because their research dollars awarded to their medical school were counted separately from the research dollars awarded to the University of Nebraska. Apparently the state of Nebraska uncoupled the two. Generally, the AAU doesn't count research grants that they consider non-competitive. USDA research grants often fall under this category. Basically, your goal should be to get a lot of money from the NIH, NSF, DoD, and DoE, among others.

[Hammersmith]

Here's the whole speech: https://www.ndsu.edu/president/speeches/stateoftheuniversityaddress2015/

This is what it would take to join the AAU:
I believe we are on the path to legitimately being able to pursue membership in the AAU. This is an association of top research universities that are leaders in innovation, scholarship and solutions that contribute to the nation's economy, security and well-being. I believe our scholarly performance already more than meets their standard, and with increased endowment of academic activities, AAU membership will become possible at some foreseeable point in the future. Just a few years ago I would have laughed at that assertion; today it has become quite real.

To that end, I have identified three targets we need to accomplish if we’re to reach AAU status. First, we need to pursue an enrollment of 18,000 students. That number gives us the size needed to be able to broaden our options, but is not so large that we lose our student focus. Second, we need to grow our student scholarship endowment by at least $100 million. And third, we will need to aggressively pursue a substantial increase in endowed chair and faculty positions.

I think this is doable with a great 5-10 year plan in place.

Was thinking that a new major fundraising drive was overdue. It's been a long time since the end of Momentum. Pres B's SotU pretty much confirms it. Anyone know and willing to share if the quiet phase of a major campaign is already underway?

And even if AAU acceptance is unlikely, this is practically a no-lose situation. If we add more endowed faculty, grow the student endowment, and grow the university(especially full-time, degree-seeking grad students) and we don't get accepted into the AAU, we're still much better off for the effort.

[No_Skill]

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
― Norman Vincent Peale (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8435.Norman_Vincent_Peale)

[AKBison]

Perhaps said funding drive will include 15 million for state of the art IPF with connecting coaches offices and football specific weight room. :)

[Bisonator98]

Perhaps said funding drive will include 15 million for state of the art IPF with connecting coaches offices and football specific weight room. :)

Not to mention a new retractable roof stadium!:biggrin:

[thundarsdaddy]

And of course, the F***ing Fargo Forum's headline is "NDSU's President says he wants enrollment to reach 18,000." Holy shit that is horrible "journalism." That is 1 of the 3 targets identified in reaching the ultimate goal of AAU status.

I am sure the Anti-Imperial Cass folks will have a heyday with that headline. It is not growth of a student body just for the sake of being bigger.

BINGO-BINGO-BINGO!

We were at the Development Foundation Banquet on Thursday evening, and President Bresciani touched on these same points about the future of academics in every context possible, not once did he make it ever seem as if they want more students just for the helluvit!!

[Twentysix]

I believe Davis and SBU are the only non-IVY fcs schools in the AAU.

This would be a HUGE deal to academics in ND. And believe it or not, could be parlayed into future conference moves.

[BisonCardinal]

Crazy that UC -Davis made it into AAU as a DII school. Accepted to AAU in 1996 and didn't do DI til 2003.

[tony]

President Bresciani might have earned himself an honorary doctorate in Trolling.

Bonus: Some past threads on NDSU and AAU

TheBisonator: http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23112-What-would-it-take-for-NDSU-to-join-the-AAU
NDB2: http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23699-My-Genius-Idea-AAU

[56BISON73]

President Bresciani might have earned himself an honorary doctorate in Trolling.

Bonus: Some past threads on NDSU and AAU

TheBisonator: http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23112-What-would-it-take-for-NDSU-to-join-the-AAU
NDB2: http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?23699-My-Genius-Idea-AAU

SV over at SS is pissing all over himself on this.:biggrin:

[BisonCardinal]

And http://csnbbs.com/thread-753020.html. Pretty sure he started thread so he could make the second post.

[tony]

And http://csnbbs.com/thread-753020.html. Pretty sure he started thread so he could make the second post.

Omigod. If you want to waste a lot of time, do a google search on: site:http://csnbbs.com ndsu

Be warned: It's a non-stop cringe-fest.

[THEsocalledfan]

For folks that have not been following, the NDSU College of Health Professions has landed multiple NIH grants at the College of Pharmacy.

https://www.ndsu.edu/news/view/detail/21681/

https://www.ndsu.edu/news/banner_stories/colorectalcancer/

However, the College was cut out of the ND budget for a critical addition to Sudro that is needed in large part to support this research. See:

https://www.ndsu.edu/healthprofessions/space_needs/

If NDSU has any chance of AAU status, the School of Pharmacy is the key to the biomedical money needed. The Dean does not yet want folks to start actively advocating legislators, but NDSU MUST get this addition done. If folks want to know more about this, feel free to post questions and I'll do my best to answer them.