ORAU Welcomes Southern University and A&M College as Sponsoring Institution

Appalachian State University and Norfolk State University Join as Associate Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
FY10-28

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) recently welcomed Southern University and A&M College as one of its newest sponsoring institutions during the 65th annual meeting of the ORAU Council of Sponsoring Institutions held in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Appalachian State University and Norfolk State University were also accepted as associate members.

“We’re honored to have Southern University and A&M College join our growing university consortium,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Membership in ORAU’s consortium will help broaden their already diverse opportunities for students and faculty researchers in many critical scientific and technology areas. At the same time, ORAU will benefit from having another strong HBCU institution available to collaborate on and help enhance the scientific and educational missions of our federal agency and national partners.”

ORAU has 98 members in 28 states ranging from Puerto Rico to Idaho and Pennsylvania to California, as well the District of Columbia and London, England. Its members award more than 37 percent of the nation’s Ph.D.s in science and engineering and make up 37 of the top 100 research & development (R&D) universities. ORAU was formed 64 years ago under the auspices of the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies and originally consisted of 14 southern schools.

Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college and university (HBCU) located in Baton Rouge, La. The school offers more than 25 graduate programs and six doctoral programs and has a total enrollment of more than 7,500, including students from 20 foreign countries. It ranks in the top 50 percent in federal R&D expenditures.

Two other schools, Appalachian State University and Norfolk State University, are joining the consortium as associate members.

Appalachian State University is located in Boone, N.C., and is accredited through the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Universities. The university offers more than 140 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and one doctoral program in Educational Leadership. More than 40 of the undergraduate degrees are in the areas of science, mathematics and technology. In the 2008-09 school year, the university received more than $12 million in research grants and contracts.

Norfolk State University, located in Norfolk, Va., is also accredited by the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Universities. Its mission is to provide an affordable, high-quality education for an ethnically and culturally diverse student population, equipping them with the capability to become productive citizens who continuously contribute to a global and rapidly changing society. NSU has been educating students and transforming their lives and communities for nearly 75 years. The University offers more than 50 academic programs at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.