The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is an association of post-secondary educational institutions that represents the interests of land-grant colleges and universities that have been designated by their respective state legislatures or the U.S. Congress. ¹

APLU consists of more than 240 members in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico and includes institutions with a collective enrollment of more than 6.8 million undergraduate and graduate students. ² APLU and its institutions focus their advocacy work on the left-of-center concept of equity. ³ The organization opposes the elimination of affirmative action in university admissions. ^{4 5} In 2022, APLU submitted a friend-of-the-court briefing to the Supreme Court in support of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s use of race-based admissions procedures. ⁶

APLU has received at least $6,873,686 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2018. ^{7 8 9} In 2023, APLU’s funding partners included the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, National Science Foundation, Lumina Foundation for Education, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Raikes Foundation. ¹⁰

History and Leadership

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities was founded in 1887 Washington, D.C., as a part of the convention of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. In 1896, the National Association of State Universities was founded, first representing “major” state universities. In 1926, this association changed its name to the Association of Land-Grant Colleges. This organization then became the American Association of Land-Grant Colleges and State Universities in anticipation of a merger with the National Association of State Universities and the State Universities Association, which formally took place in 1963. On March 30, 2009, the organization officially became the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). ^{11 12} APLU expanded to include universities in Canada and Mexico in 2014. ¹³

Mark Becker became the president of APLU since September 2022. Prior to joining APLU, Becker worked in various senior roles at universities across the United States. ¹⁴

Activities and Funding

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities is an association of post-secondary educational institutions that purports to represent the interests of land-grant colleges and universities, which are institutions that have been designated by respective state legislatures or Congress to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, or the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. Originally, these universities were designed to teach agriculture, military tactics, mechanical arts, and classical studies. ¹⁵

The association and its members collectively focus their advocacy work on advancing the left-of-center concept of equity. The association also works to increase access, competition, and workforce readiness; promote scientific research and development; and grow community and economic engagement. ¹⁶

APLU’s 248 member institutions are in all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, six U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. As of 2023, APLU’s membership includes 25 university systems, 224 universities, and several affiliate organizations. These institutions enroll 5.4 million undergraduate students and 1.4 million graduate students, accounting for more than $51 billion in university-based research. ¹⁷ APLU’s advocacy work aims to shape federal policy to maximize impact and benefits for its members and public and land-grant universities. ¹⁸

Policy Positions

Association of Public Land-Grant Universities supports the use of race-based admissions for colleges and universities in the United States. APLU opposed the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard to eliminate affirmative action in university admissions. ¹⁹ During the case’s proceedings, APLU submitted a friend-of-the-court briefing in support of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s use of race-based admissions procedures. ²⁰

APLU supports the critical race theory concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). The organization’s mission includes engagement to “equitably fuel the success of our communities and world.” APLU strives to increase DEIB through “equity-mindedness” ²¹ and supports the use of critical race theory-influenced concepts of racial justice and racial equity at public universities. ^{22 23} APLU has published papers supporting the critical race theory-influenced concepts of equitable access, equitable student access, and equitable career pathways. ²⁴

To advance these advocacy priorities, APLU established the Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI), which is comprised of the vice president, senior diversity officer, or senior officials from universities to discuss equity-related practices. CDEI is led by the University of Utah’s vice president for equity, diversity, and inclusion. ²⁵ The council hosts regular meetings and discusses critical race theory-influenced issues frequently. ²⁶ Other APLU policy councils focus on issues such as food, agriculture, and natural resources; academic affairs; research, innovation, and STEM policy; urban initiatives; and congressional affairs. ²⁷

Political Positions

Association of Public Land-Grant Universities has supported Biden administration legislative priorities, including the CHIPS and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ²⁸ and has supported the expansion of Pell Grants. ²⁹ The association also supports legal status for the so-called “DREAMers,” illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, ³⁰ and has received funding from the left-of-center Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support a workshop regarding the concept of “Indigenous land dispossession.” ³¹

APLU opposed Trump administration immigration policies ³² and criticized Trump administration opposition to race-based admissions policies for universities. ³³

Grantmaking

Association of Public Land-Grant Universities makes grants to its member universities and affiliated institutions. In 2022 these grants included $136,000 to the Association for Institutional Research, $112,000 to the Extension Foundation, $100,000 to the National 4-H Council, and $96,000 to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. ³⁴

Funding

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities receives its funding from individual contributions, grants, and program service revenue. ³⁵ In 2022, APLU reported revenue of $19,408,713 and expenses of $18,895,715. APLU reported revenue of $22,104,494 and expenses of $19,156,362 in 2021. ³⁶

In 2023, 19 different funding organizations supported APLU’s work, accounting for $21.77 million of combined contributions over the life of 33 different grants and contracts. APLU’s funding partners include the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, American Association of Community Colleges, Arnold Ventures, Ascendium Philanthropy, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Burroughs Welcome Fund, National Science Foundation, Kavli Foundation, Lumen Learning, Lumina Foundation for Education, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the U.S. Department of Commerce subordinate agency the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Raikes Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ³⁷

In 2022, APLU received $989,425 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ^{38 39} The association also received $268,396 from the Gates Foundation in 2021, $3,037,752 in 2019, and $2,578,113 in 2018. ⁴⁰

APLU received $55,516 from the left-of-center Tides Center in 2019, ^{41 42} $2,688,000 from the Raikes Foundation in 2017, ⁴³ $249,049 from the Kresge Foundation in 2017, ⁴⁴ and $505,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2015. ⁴⁵

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