Iowa State AAU Membership

Like all 11 current Big Ten institutions, Iowa State is a member of the prestigious American Association of Universities (link: http://www.aau.edu), described by ESPN (link: http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/12511/big-tens-aau-ties-should-factor-in-expansion) as "a collection of 63 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada."

Many think that athletics should be the only the concern in expansion but the Big Ten leaders say not to underestimate academics and research as well.

"It's very important," [Big Ten Commissioner Jim] Delany said. "AAU membership is an important part of who we are. It was an important part of who we are [when the Big Ten added] Penn State, and it's an important aspect of what makes an institution a research institution, an undergraduate school, a school that serves the public at a high level."

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"It's very important," Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith said of AAU membership. "But at the same time, the academic reputation is more important."

The academic piece of this, do not underestimate that.