Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

I went to both a public and a private university, yet I never transferred, and I only got one degree. How did I do this? I went to Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. It’s a New York State school even though it’s part of a private university. While it wasn’t always obvious, there were definitely times when I noticed distinct differences between how the public and private sides operated. Public universities and land-grant institutions often have common constraints, and that’s why they work together through the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. It’s a Washington, DC based non-profit “research, policy, and advocacy organization representing 219 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and related organizations.”

Are You a Public Person?

The APLU has been around for more than 125 years, and that makes them the country’s oldest higher education association. The organization’s goal is to provide “a forum for the discussion and development of policies and programs affecting higher education and the public interest.” They do this through councils, commissions, legislative action, and quite a few other program areas. You can see a list of the APLU’s member institutions here and their major initiatives here. If you’d like to help America’s public universities do what they do better, take a look at the APLU’s Careers page. Right now they’re looking for a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. The position looks like a great opportunity for a new or recent grad to get involved with the inner workings of the APLU.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• APLU.org
• Jobs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
• About the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
• Leadership at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
• Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Members
• Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Annual Reports

Did you go to a public or land-grant university?