Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is a research, policy, and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and higher education organizations. It has member campuses in all of the United States as well as the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico.
Membership
The association's membership includes 239 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations. These institutions include 75 U.S. land-grant institutions, 19 of which are among the 23 historically black colleges and universities that are APLU members. There are also nine Canadian and five Mexican public research universities.Membership involvement
APLU members serve on councils and commissions. APLU Councils are composed of university administrators with similar job functions who come together to address critical issues and expand their knowledge base within their professional area of expertise. APLU Commissions cut across job function to enable individuals from multiple disciplines across universities to address critical issues and expand their knowledge base in areas of common interest.Membership criteria
Membership in APLU is automatically granted to land-grant institutions per the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862, 1890, and 1994. Public universities classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" or "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" are also eligible for membership.History
The roots of APLU were established in October 1887 as the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, making it North America's oldest higher education association. The first annual convention was held that year in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Pennsylvania State University president George W. Atherton was elected president of the Board of Directors. Through the years, APLU has undergone a number of name changes to reflect its growing public higher education mission. In 1919, the Land-Grant Colleges Engineering Association merged with the association. A few years later in 1926, the organization changed its name to the Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. In 1963, the American Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities merged with the National Association of State Universities to form the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. On March 30, 2009, the association adopted its current name—Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.| Former Names of the Association | Years Active |
| American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations | 1887-1926 |
| Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities | 1926 - 1954 |
| American Association of Land-grant Colleges and State Universities | 1954-1963 |
| National Association of State Universities and Land-grant Colleges | 1963-2009 |
| Association of Public and Land-grant Universities | 2009–present |
Organizational structure
Association leadership
In 2005, M. Peter McPherson became the third president of the association.| Name | Title | Years Served |
| Russell I. Thackery | Executive Secretary | 1945-1969 |
| Ralph K. Huitt | Executive Director | 1969-1979 |
| Robert L. Clodius | President | 1979-1992 |
| C. Peter Magrath | President | 1992-2005 |
| M. Peter McPherson | President | 2005-current |