The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has designated N.C. State as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University.

The designation recognizes universities that support economic development through work with partners in both the public and private sector and emphasizes successes in innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development, according to an N.C. State press release. 

To receive the Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation, a university must conduct a self-study evaluating its efforts to support economic development by identifying both areas of strength and weakness. The study is then sent to the APLU for consideration.   

N.C. State received the designation because of “significant strengths” demonstrated by its study findings, according to APLU.

Chancellor Randy Woodson is currently serving a one-year term as the chair of the APLU Board of Directors and has previously served as the chair of the APLU Council of Presidents.

APLU, which represents 219 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and related organizations, was founded in 1887 as a research, policy and advocacy organization. 

“Public universities serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting-edge research to reach new breakthroughs, and by developing the talent to help existing businesses grow stronger and enabling new ones to develop and thrive,” APLU President Peter McPherson said in an N.C. State press release. 

According to McPherson, the 14 institutions receiving the 2014 Innovation & Economic Prosperity University designation are models, demonstrating how public research universities extend beyond the physical campuses in order to creates jobs and improves lives by driving and promoting economic development.