University of Maryland Named to 2015 Class of Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Honors 18 Public Institutions
Committed to Economic Engagement

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland has been named to the 2015 class of Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The designation honors 18 universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

“Public universities serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting edge research to reach new breakthroughs and developing the talent to help existing businesses grow stronger and enabling new ones to develop and thrive,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “The 18 institutions in the 2015 class of Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities serve as wonderful models of how public research universities extend beyond their campuses to engage their communities in economic development that create jobs and improve lives.”

Each university received the designation after conducting a thorough self-review with outside stakeholder input and submitting an application that went through a rigorous independent review process. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Tech Council, Maryland Space Business Roundtable and Maryland Economic Development Association provided input.

“Congratulations to President Loh and the university on this well-deserved recognition,” said Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development Secretary Mike Gill. “Whether educating students who make history, developing new technologies that change lives, or empowering communities to grow and thrive, the University of Maryland has been a catalyst for innovation and economic prosperity in Maryland for generations. I’m proud to call UMD a partner in our economic development efforts.”

Scoring was based on a range of criteria emphasizing universities’ development of economic engagement enterprise, planning efforts around economic engagement, strategic communications around these efforts, and participation in encouraging economic engagement among peer institutions. UMD produces the largest number of STEM graduates in the state of Maryland and the Greater Washington D.C. region and is a leader in cyber security research and education with partners such as Northrup Grumman. Additionally, UMD recently announced plans for Greater College Park, an initiative to tie together efforts for a reimagined campus community with dynamic academic spaces, a vibrant downtown and a public-private research hub.

“I am thrilled that the hard work of the faculty, staff and students at UMD in engaging communities across Maryland is being recognized,” said Brian Darmody, Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations at UMD and chair of the work group that produced the year-long self-study. “You get a sense of the growing outreach in College Park with the many construction cranes now visible, but the study demonstrated the good work UMD is engaged in away from campus in Frederick, Baltimore and the Eastern Shore.”

The University of Maryland joins seven Big Ten institutions that are certified Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities.