FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2005
FY05-25
University of Cincinnati Joins ORAU Consortium
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) recently welcomed the University of Cincinnati to its consortium at the 60th annual meeting of the ORAU Council of Sponsoring Institutions held in Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati has a proud history of research that has directly impacted society in positive ways including development of the oral polio vaccine, introduction of the first, safe, anti-knock gasoline, and discovery of the first antihistamine. The university’s current enrollment of 33,823 includes more than 5,000 graduate and professional students. The school’s College of Engineering is also ranked in the top 100 nationally among schools with doctoral programs in engineering.
"It is an honor for our scientists and research staff to join with such eminent colleagues in the consortium," said Sandra J. Degen, Ph.D., acting vice president for research at the University of Cincinnati. "It is wonderful to be able to partner with the outstanding skills and capabilities of the member institutions in the quest to improve the health of the nation and advance our many scientific endeavors."
At their meeting, the council also elected Western Carolina University as an associate member of the consortium. With these additions, ORAU now has 91 member institutions and 11 associate members, which are found in 27 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and London. Consortium members take part in ORAU-sponsored or administered scientific research programs. Faculty and students at member institutions also benefit from opportunities for travel grants, internships and laboratory research at federal facilities.
“These two newest member institutions represent the kind of diversity that has come to characterize our consortium,” ORAU President Ron Townsend said. “From the large, urban environment of the University of Cincinnati to the growing campus in the hills of North Carolina of Western Carolina University, ORAU draws tremendous strength from the broad range of assets of our members. We are delighted to have these new members and look forward to their contributions.”
ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 91 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.