Duke University

Founded in 1898, we're a global research university renowned for our experiential learning model, high-impact research, deep partnerships, and worldwide reach. We've created a one-of-a-kind global university system of 14 campuses, 49 alumni communities, and 3,900+ employer partners that forms a dynamic international community. Our signature approach erases traditional boundaries, empowering not only students, but faculty, alumni, partners, and innovators to solve problems and pursue impact. From day one, we've pursued innovative ways of teaching and research that place a premium on experience and engagement with the world. Our century-old co-op program helps students gain real work experience through partnerships with employers in over 131 countries and every continent. Whether on-campus, online, or in hybrid formats, we create opportunities for richer educational experiences and deeper collaborations across industries and disciplines to bring the right expertise together to go from promise to reality.

Ferris State University is a mid-sized four-year public university founded in 1884 by educator Woodbridge N. Ferris, who later served as governor of Michigan and United States Senator. The university's main campus resides in scenic Big Rapids, Michigan, with additional campuses in Grand Rapids and satellite locations throughout the state. Ferris State offers over 180 academic programs ranging from associate to doctoral degrees through seven degree-granting colleges: College of Arts, Sciences and Education, College of Business, College of Engineering Technology, College of Health Professions, Kendall College of Art and Design, Michigan College of Optometry, and College of Pharmacy. The university prepares students for successful careers, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning through its career-oriented, broad-based educational model that serves a rapidly changing global economy and society. Ferris State distinguishes itself through exceptional faculty access due to low student-faculty ratios and small class sizes, promoting engaging instruction and professional connections. The university emphasizes real-world skill development with approximately 70% of bachelor's and advanced degree students participating in internships. With over 9,900 students and more than 220 registered student organizations, Ferris State combines academic excellence with practical experience to produce graduates ready for professional success.

Brown University is a leading nonprofit research university and the seventh-oldest college in the United States, distinguished by its student-centered learning model and the innovative Open Curriculum. Founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Brown has evolved into a premier Ivy League institution that challenges conventional educational boundaries through intellectual freedom and academic rigor. The university's unique approach empowers undergraduates to pursue their intellectual passions without traditional distribution requirements, fostering creative thinkers, intellectual risk-takers, and entrepreneurial problem-solvers who are prepared to make meaningful impacts in their communities and the world. Brown's mission is to serve the community, the nation, and the world by discovering, communicating, and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry. With world-renowned faculty across the College, Graduate School, Warren Alpert Medical School, School of Engineering, and School of Public Health, Brown drives breakthrough research in areas ranging from brain science and biomedical engineering to environmental studies and international affairs. Deeply intertwined with its home in Providence, Rhode Island, for over two and a half centuries, Brown operates as an anchor institution that contributes significantly to the regional economy, public health, K-12 education, and community engagement while preparing students to discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation.

Howard University stands as one of the nation's leading research universities, dedicated to educating students from diverse backgrounds at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels since 1867. As a private, historically Black, federally chartered institution, Howard comprises 14 schools and colleges offering 143 programs of study. The University produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States and ranks among the highest producers of the nation's Black professionals across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, nursing, architecture, religion, law, music, social work and education. Guided by the motto Veritas et Utilitas - Truth and Service - Howard combines cutting-edge scholarship in nanotechnology, human genome research, and atmospheric science with excellence in social sciences, arts and humanities. The University has produced notable scholars including four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard's College of Medicine trains competent physicians for medically underserved communities, while the School of Law has produced more than 4,000 social engineers, including the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, serving as an advocate for social justice for over 150 years.

Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States. We're a vibrant academic community nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., comprising two unique campuses - the historic Hilltop Campus in Georgetown and our Capitol Campus near the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court. Our community is driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a dedication to making a difference in the world. We offer rigorous academic programs across multiple schools including the College of Arts & Sciences, McDonough School of Business, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown Law, and School of Medicine. Grounded in our Catholic, Jesuit identity, we provide an education that's both challenging and supportive - emphasizing contemplation in action, care for the whole person, and a global perspective that prepares our students to tackle complex issues. With outstanding professors who truly see their students and a network of alumni making waves worldwide, Georgetown offers more than a degree - it's a way of engaging with the world.

The University of Tennessee System is transforming Tennessee through education, discovery, and outreach that drives $4B in statewide economic impact. With 64,866 students enrolled across five campuses and two institutes, UT serves all 95 counties, creating 79,000+ Tennessee jobs and delivering life-changing research through $484M in annual R&D investment. Founded in 1794 as Blount College, our flagship land-grant university in Knoxville now offers over 900 programs of study to more than 38,000 students, while our system awards 14,000+ degrees each year. UT's impact extends far beyond the classroom. The UT Health Science Center stands as Tennessee's largest producer of healthcare professionals, while our partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory position us at the forefront of scientific innovation. From training teachers who serve 93 of Tennessee's 95 counties to operating extension offices in every community, we bring resources directly where they're needed most. With 20,000+ employees systemwide and a 92.4% retention rate at our flagship campus, UT isn't just educating students - we're building a stronger Tennessee through workforce development, cutting-edge research, and lifelong learning opportunities that improve lives across our state and beyond.