Consortia and Professional Organizations

The University of Minnesota maintains membership in several consortia and professional organizations working in the field of international education and engagement.

Except where noted, contact the GPS Alliance at global@umn.edu for questions about the University's membership in these organizations.

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Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)

The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education.

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. APLU maintains a strong focus on international education.

Aurora Network

Aurora was formed in 2016 as a consortium of European research-intensive universities (including several UMN partners) deeply committed to the social impact of their activities, and with a history of engagement with their communities. Aurora aims to harness their institutions' academic excellence to influence societal change through research and educational activities, and ultimately to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals. The University of Minnesota became the first global member in 2023.

Big Ten Academic Alliance

The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) is the nation’s preeminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. For more than half a century, these world-class institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served the common good by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs. The BTAA maintains a Senior International Office Executive Group, of which the UMN senior international officer is a participant.

Institute on International Education (IIE)

IIE is a global not-for-profit that designs and implements international education strategies and program services. They work with governments, policymakers, educators, and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce. IIE administers the national Open Doors report on international student mobility/exchange. The GPS Alliance manages the University's institutional membership.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA is the world's largest nonprofit professional association dedicated to international education. NAFSA and its members believe that international education and exchange—connecting students, scholars, educators, and citizens across borders—is fundamental to establishing mutual understanding among nations, preparing the next generation with vital cross-cultural and global skills, and creating the conditions for a more peaceful world.

The GPS Alliance maintains a group membership, which allows for lower annual dues for individual members associated with the University of Minnesota. Individual members still pay for their own membership dues. Contact global@umn.edu for more information.

New University in Exile Consortium

The New University in Exile Consortium is a globally expanding group of colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Each institutional member is committed to hosting at least one threatened scholar every year. The Consortium works with scholars individually and together to try and lessen the profound sense of dislocation that exiled scholars suffer and adversely impacts their intellectual and personal lives. In the past year, the Consortium has expanded its mission to include finding placements for threatened Afghan and Ukrainian academics, students, and artists at Consortium member institutions.

Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

The Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration is an alliance of American college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact students, campuses, and communities. The Alliance supports policies that create a welcoming environment for immigrant, undocumented, and international students on our campuses. UMN Interim President Jeff Ettinger is a member of the Alliance.

Scholars At Risk

Scholars At Risk is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission it is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities and colleges, Scholars at Risk offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, so scholars’ ideas are not lost and they can keep working until conditions improve and they are able to return to their home countries.