Colonial Clique: CAA Schools Share More Than Just Athletics
When the George Mason University Patriots made their historic run to the NCAA Final Four earlier this year, Georgia State and the other schools in the Colonial Athletic Association lived vicariously in the spotlight. But the bond between CAA schools goes well beyond the playing field and deep into academic life.
A consortium known as the Colonial Academic Alliance links the 12 colleges and universities of the CAA through programs that improve the quality of teaching, learning and research. Created by the member-institution presidents in 2002, the alliance aims to develop programs that help the schools meet their institutional goals. Ron Henry, Georgia State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, is chair of the alliance’s executive committee for 2006-2007. He meets with leaders from other CAA schools in the spring and fall, holding the spring meeting in conjunction with an annual undergraduate research conference.
"And that’s certainly something we're pleased with," says Henry, noting that undergraduate research typically receives less recognition than graduate and doctoral studies.
The alliance held its fourth annual undergraduate research conference in March at James Madison University. Three Georgia State biology students, biology professor Roberta Attanasio and Nannette Commander, assistant vice president for recruitment and retention, attended the conference.
"The 12 institutions that make up the CAA are an incredible resource," says Alliance Director Mary Frances Forcier. "Collectively, they enroll more than 200,000 students and nearly 10,000 fulltime faculty, including three Nobel Prize-winning professors."
According to Forcier, the alliance is using interest groups to develop collaborative programs.