U. gains recognition, potential future funding for promoting economic progress

Rutgers has been identified as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University for its contribution to local economic development across various industries, including transportation, agriculture, environmental sciences and business.

The title comes from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), which created the program to recognize educational institutions' contributions to their local communities. The IEP Program also helps provide these universities with the assistance needed to evaluate and improve upon their community development.

To obtain this recognition, Rutgers community members initiated an extensive internal evaluation process in 2022 involving focus groups, interviews and surveys to better understand its capabilities and achievements across hundreds of projects. Insights from these assessments shaped the University's application for the title, which was subject to panel review by the APLU.

Through its new role, the University will be afforded more opportunities to pursue other IEP University awards, some of which could garner material support for endeavors similar to the ones that the University is being recognized for by the APLU. Rutgers also intends to publish a new website to spotlight the various projects identified through the application process and to welcome submissions for more.

"Economic development is a major pillar of universities' work," Mark Becker, president of the APLU, said in a press release. "From talent development to groundbreaking research to entrepreneurship and beyond, institutions have a central role to play in economic development. We're pleased to recognize Rutgers University—New Brunswick for its commitment to engaging its community around these issues to advance regional economic development."