ASU’s membership in the Association of American Universities

The AAU is an association of leading research universities that advances research, education and public policy. Together, member universities help shape policy for higher education, science and innovation; promote undergraduate and graduate education best practices; and enhance the role of leading research universities in advancing American society.

As a group, AAU members earn a majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that:

• Improves public health
• Addresses national challenges
• Contributes significantly to the nation’s economic strength

Together, these efforts drive scientific discovery, strengthen the economy and improve quality of life.

For a university to become a member, it must be invited by the AAU after meeting an extensive set of quantitative indicators that assess the breadth and quality of its research and education.  

When ASU was invited to join universities including Harvard, Stanford, MIT and Johns Hopkins, the AAU recognized the university's academic and research strength, as well as its leadership in higher education. 

ASU is one of only 38 public universities in the AAU. Joining the association reflects two tenets of the ASU Charter:

• Advancing research and discovery of public value. ASU focuses its research efforts on impacting the public good and creating ways to improve people’s everyday lives.
• Assuming fundamental responsibility for the health of the communities we serve. ASU uses education, research and innovation to help local, national and global communities thrive.

As an AAU member, ASU collaborates with other leading research universities to strengthen higher education, advance research and advocate for policies that support innovation and the partnership between universities and the federal government.

AAU membership recognizes the strength of ASU's research enterprise and reflects the university's commitment to creating new knowledge, educating future leaders and improving lives through discovery.