AAU Candidacy
Virginia Tech is the only school that's top 55 in US News and top 301 in ARWU to not be an AAU member.
Getting AAU membership would certainly help in conference realignment.
13 Replies
S
Stech
11mo
Universities. We are making strides, but relative newness in those areas is a challenge.
That said, it won’t get us in the B1G, but it could keep us out. I said could, I know they say it doesn’t matter, but actions speak louder than words.
** Edited by Stech at 8/19/2025, 8:56:32 AM
(In response to this post by hokie_jayhawk)
E
EDGEMAN
11mo
Hopefully we can also count the latter, even though it's in a partnership with WF.
We should also get closer ties to our (Edwin Via) DO school, so any research grants they receive is also counted towards VT's total.
Let's see, a MD school, a DO school, and a Vet school. Sounds like a lot of medical related research going on...
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
11mo
Our answer has to be to keep putting the pedal down!!
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
E
EDGEMAN
11mo
...and I bet that Sands has been working on that since he arrived.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
11mo
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
11mo
I'm not saying there's a conspiracy against Virginia Tech, but I'm not holding my breath that we'll ever get invited. And while it might be good for the university somehow, I am tempered in my feelings that it will somehow help us in realignment. In fact, there are a number of schools that have AAU and have had it for some time who are already getting screwed, or poised to get screwed in realignment: Cal, Stanford, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Kansas and others.
(In response to this post by hokie_jayhawk)
11mo
Aau status is huge for brand. It was mentioned in bov read ahead
(In response to this post by hokie_jayhawk)
E
EDGEMAN
11mo
ASU was in a similar situation the time before they made it, where they had far more research grants than a lot of the schools that did make it in. VT was in the same boat, with ASU being the only school with more research funding than the Hokies. I guess Sands needs to "clean up" a few areas to satisfy the AAU selection committee.
(In response to this post by hokie_jayhawk)
11mo
schools are located in the South.
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
11mo
were from the Rocky Mountain region (Utah, ASU) and Florida (USF and Miami). Notre Dame got accepted despite low R&D rankings.
I think Florida State will get in soon because of their location and future potential. "If" the Big 10 wants FSU, I'm sure every AAU member in that conference will support FSU. Georgia and NC State are two other Southern schools that have a chance of getting in along with Virginia Tech. I'd be surprised if any schools get accepted in the next 2-3 years or even longer.
(In response to this post by manassashoo)
11mo
(In response to this post by hokie_jayhawk)
11mo
conference realignment is not the ultimate goal for an academic institution.
Joining the AAU would primarily help VT’s academic and research profile, which is the higher priority.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)