Dartmouth has joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), President Philip J. Hanlon ’77 announced today.

Founded in 1900, the AAU is a consortium of 65 of America’s leading public and private research universities—including all of Dartmouth’s Ivy League peers—that collectively help shape higher education policy, promote best practices, and amplify members’ contributions to American society, according to the AAU website.

“This is a great day for Dartmouth,” says President Hanlon. “AAU membership is an affirmation from our peers that we are delivering on a scholar-teacher model that provides extraordinary learning experiences for all of our students while producing research that is expanding the boundaries of knowledge and solving some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

“Becoming a part of AAU is particularly noteworthy, as invitations to new members are rare and extended only by vote of the current membership,” says AAU board chair and Indiana University President Michael McRobbie.

AAU members include Stanford, MIT, and dozens of other top institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership is by invitation only and is based on an extensive set of quantitative indicators and qualitative judgements that assess the breadth and quality of a university’s research and graduate and undergraduate education programs. Joining at the same time as Dartmouth are the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Utah.

Dartmouth and the other new members “are all distinguished institutions in their own right, and we were delighted to invite them to join the ranks of AAU,” says AAU President Mary Sue Coleman. “AAU’s membership is limited to institutions at the forefront of scientific inquiry and educational excellence. These world-class institutions are a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with them as we continue to shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation.”

“For an institution of Dartmouth’s scale and undergraduate liberal arts focus to be recognized as one of the leading research institutions in America is a testament to our faculty’s relentless pursuit of new knowledge,” says Laurel Richie ’81, chair of the board of trustees. “What excites me most is the opportunity this membership provides for Dartmouth to continue to expand its global impact.”

Hannah Silverstein can be reached at hannah.silverstein@dartmouth.edu.