BevoMDCXVIII
100+ Posts
Somehow I started thinking about the Big10's CIC (probably because Nebraska is next on the basketball beat down list). The Committee on Institutional Cooperation has always been touted as one of the biggest gems in the Big10 crown.
After think about it and doing a little research, I'm surprised the Big12-2 hasn't seriously considered forming a similar Research cooperative. Before diving in, I'll go ahead and state that I think the Big12-2 is very stable and the reports of its imminent demise are greatly exaggerated - but that's another topic. I'm stating this point because I think stability is necessary in order to form this type of organization.
Looking at the Big12-2 we have five schools which are AAU members and have a strong focus on research - UT, A&M, Missouri, Kansas, and ISU. OU seems to be getting close, and Texas Tech is pushing towards "tier 1 status" which includes a research criteria. Baylor, KSU, and Okie St might have a few issues.
I don't think those five schools alone, with the hope of OU and Tech one day stepping up in academic greatness is enough to create this type of an organization. Which brings me to this next point. The University of Chicago is a member of the CIC even though it no longer has conference affiliation with the Big10. Following that model, there are a number of AAU schools with top flight reputations in research within the geographic footprint. Specifically: Rice, Tulane, and Washington University (St. Louis). With the inclusion of these three universities, i think it could be a tremendous academic force and economic driver in the region.
After think about it and doing a little research, I'm surprised the Big12-2 hasn't seriously considered forming a similar Research cooperative. Before diving in, I'll go ahead and state that I think the Big12-2 is very stable and the reports of its imminent demise are greatly exaggerated - but that's another topic. I'm stating this point because I think stability is necessary in order to form this type of organization.
Looking at the Big12-2 we have five schools which are AAU members and have a strong focus on research - UT, A&M, Missouri, Kansas, and ISU. OU seems to be getting close, and Texas Tech is pushing towards "tier 1 status" which includes a research criteria. Baylor, KSU, and Okie St might have a few issues.
I don't think those five schools alone, with the hope of OU and Tech one day stepping up in academic greatness is enough to create this type of an organization. Which brings me to this next point. The University of Chicago is a member of the CIC even though it no longer has conference affiliation with the Big10. Following that model, there are a number of AAU schools with top flight reputations in research within the geographic footprint. Specifically: Rice, Tulane, and Washington University (St. Louis). With the inclusion of these three universities, i think it could be a tremendous academic force and economic driver in the region.
