2025 Carnegie Classifications by Conference

[HoustonCajun]

Wouldn’t gaining AAU status also require us to dramatically increase our endowment?

I wonder if there are any AAU universities that don't have a medical and/or law school.

[WestUCajun]

I don't think Georgia Tech has either.

[WestUCajun]

Wouldn’t gaining AAU status also require us to dramatically increase our endowment?

Not sure about endowment but probably need a significant increase in research spending.

[ZoomZoom]

I don't think Georgia Tech has either.

Correct

[CajunFun]

Part of admission to the AAU is snotiness and snobbishness, disguised as 'selectivity'.

Which is a fancy way of saying, how many qualified students do you turn away?

That, IMHO, is a violation of everything that makes our culture, and our University, strong.

Our visionary approach to inclusion-- from pioneering desecration, to trail-blazing scholarships to black athletes, to the encouragement of international students (some of whom are now multi-millionaires in the middle east and who are beginning to make donations), to investing early in women's athletics, we have grown as others have failed because we recognized what is truly valuable-- people, all kinds of people-- over the silly dross that so many universities prize: "We're better than those people."

(And I should point out that for most of the last century, the Cajuns & Creoles were included with those people.)

We were smarter than our "betters." We saw potential and passion everywhere we looked, and we recruited it.

And with that strategy, we built a University that has defied the pundits and prognosticators, and overcome all the odds.

Don't get distracted by useless frippery.

[60swerethebest]

I could get distracted by useful frippery, though.

Your point about inclusion is one of our secret strengths. Many of our elite faculty in Engineering have stayed here and their families live in the area still because they feel welcomed, accepted and treasured. Not just used. As one of our lead profs told me, “We feel safe here.” Gave me the frissons. I only thought we were lucky to have him. Didn’t know it was our culture that keeps him here. Hope we never lose that.

[CajunFun]

I could get distracted by useful frippery, though.

Your point about inclusion is one of our secret strengths. Many of our elite faculty in Engineering have stayed here and their families live in the area still because they feel welcomed, accepted and treasured. Not just used. As one of our lead profs told me, “We feel safe here.” Gave me the frissons. I only thought we were lucky to have him. Didn’t know it was our culture that keeps him here. Hope we never lose that.

In fact, it is that welcoming, inclusive attitude that explains so much of our growth. Over the decades, review teams would visit UL and after looking us over they would start with, "We owe you an apology... " They were sure we would be a second-rate regional college. We don't have the funds, the political support, and the national exposure that 'good' schools do.

We are much more than our resources would suggest because a) we've had leaders and faculty with vision, and b) (which helps explain some of a)) we are a warm, friendly place; so, hot-shot young faculty who looked at us as a stepping stone often changed their minds, and spent their careers here.

It is one of the intangibles that is often missed in our profit-driven, rankings-obsessed modern culture. Metrics aren't as useful for the 'soft' strengths (in fact, that's the meaning of 'soft,' there are no hard measurements), particularly those strengths that don't reach full power for decades.

[CajunNation]

. . . .we recognized what is truly valuable-- people, all kinds of people-- over the silly dross that so many universities prize: "We're better than those people."

(And I should point out that for most of the last century, the Cajuns & Creoles were included with those people). . . .

I wish all of the people from Acadiana who genuflect towards tiger stadium on Saturdays would understand this is exactly how Baton Rouge has ALWAYS viewed Acadiana.

[Boomer]

I don't think Georgia Tech has either.

…….but a Rambling wreckFrom Georgia Tech is a hell of an engineer!!!