Welcome UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington
The Big Ten Academic Alliance is thrilled to welcome the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), the University of Oregon, and the University of Washington. This expansion increases our membership to 18 institutions and includes a historic affiliation with the University of Chicago.
For over 65 years, the Big Ten Academic Alliance has led in academic collaboration, creating opportunities and driving innovation across its member universities. The addition of these four prestigious institutions further enhances our collective impact and resources.
With the new members, Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions now boast 75,000 instructional staff, 810,000 students, $17.4 billion in annual research expenditures, and 145 million library volumes—25% of all print titles in North America.
Illustration courtesy of University of Oregon
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Message from Executive Director
These are tremendously exciting and challenging times in higher education, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance is helping its member institutions navigate the changing landscape and position themselves for continued success.
- Keith Marshall, Big Ten Academic Alliance Executive Director
Unlocking the Power of Collaboration
Transforming Library Services Through Collaboration
The Big Ten Academic Alliance exemplifies the power of intentional interdependence among academic libraries.
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- Unified Resource Access: The BIG Collection integrates the library collections into a single, networked resource, offering a more equitable and sustainable open-knowledge ecosystem.
- Open Publishing: Agreements with major publishers facilitate immediate open access to faculty research, enhancing the visibility and impact of scholarly work.
- Advanced Infrastructure: Development of systems and services ensures seamless access to content, now and in the future.
- Enhanced Accessibility: The Library Accessibility Alliance (LAA) promotes equitable access by providing accessibility evaluations and advocating for standardized e-resource contracts.
- Efficient Borrowing: UBorrow network streamlines interlibrary borrowing, rapidly providing thousands of volumes to the Big Ten community.
BTAA's collaborative efforts are setting new standards in library excellence and innovation,
transforming library services to better meet the needs of researchers, faculty, and
students.
Shaping Leadership Excellence Through Top-Tier Professional Development Programs
The BTAA Leadership Institute delivers targeted and impactful professional development programs.
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- Tailored Professional Development: Practical training in academic administration and leadership from top experts in the field.
- Proven Impact: 50% of current Big Ten university presidents, provosts, arts & science deans, and graduate deans are alumni of the Academic Leadership Program (ALP) or Deans’ Leadership Program (DLP).
- Comprehensive Learning: Interactive and hybrid formats, including online and in-person sessions, designed for diverse leadership roles.
- Extensive Network: Over 2,000 ALP alumni form a distinguished community of peers and experienced leaders.
- Focused Programs: Options include the Academic Leadership Program (ALP), Department Executive Officers Program (DEO), and Deans’ Leadership Program.
These programs are instrumental in shaping the future of university leadership, offering
unparalleled opportunities for growth and development in higher education
administration.
Enhancing Student Opportunities Across The Big Ten
BTAA institutions significantly enhance the student experience, offering expanded academic and personal opportunities.
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- Expanded Resource Access: The UBorrow network enables seamless interlibrary loans across the BTAA’s vast collection of over 140 million volumes, ensuring students have access to a wealth of information and research materials.
- Innovative Program Offerings: Programs like CourseShare allow students to enroll in less commonly taught language courses not available at their home institutions, broadening their academic horizons.
- Exclusive Research Opportunities: The Traveling Scholar program supports doctoral students by providing access to specialized courses, collections and facilities across member universities, while the Smithsonian Institute Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for advanced research at prestigious facilities.
- Focus on Student Success: Initiatives such as the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) offer undergraduates valuable research experience and mentorship, enhancing their academic and career prospects.
Through these collaborative efforts, the Big Ten Academic Alliance is setting new benchmarks in academic excellence, transforming the educational landscape to better support student achievement and growth
Modeling Excellence Through Strategic Procurement Practices
The Big Ten Academic Alliance Procurement Collaboration offers significant advantages to its member institutions through collective purchasing power and strategic sourcing.
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- Enhanced Cost Efficiency: The collaboration manages 33 master agreements with a total spend of $120 million, focusing on high-impact categories such as scientific supplies and executive search firms.
- Best Practice Sharing: Members benefit from shared strategies and best practices, improving procurement processes and driving cost savings.
- Leadership Development: The initiative provides valuable professional development opportunities, fostering expertise and innovation among procurement leaders.
- Diverse Expertise: Collaboration among various buyer groups, from IT hardware to travel managers, promotes a comprehensive approach to procurement challenges.
By leveraging collective purchasing power and expertise, the BTAA Procurement Collaboration enhances membership benefits significantly. Strategic initiatives and shared best practices enable member institutions to achieve greater procurement efficiency and innovation, advancing their overall effectiveness and success
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