As a member of the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten), the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota is part of a leading academic alliance in higher education. While the Big Ten is often celebrated for its athletic prowess, its educational benefits are equally significant, offering a wealth of opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) is a consortium that facilitates the sharing of resources, infrastructure, and expertise among its 18 member institutions, which helps them better execute their missions and goals. Through the BTAA, the University community enjoys access to a wide range of initiatives that enrich research, teaching and professional development.

“Being members of this prestigious group enables our whole University to forge new partnerships with the nation’s leading research universities,” says Gretchen Ritter, executive vice president and provost.

Enhancing educational opportunities

A notable advantage of membership in the BTAA is expanded research opportunities. Member institutions conduct $17 billion in funded research annually and offer more than 1,850 different programs of study that continuously receive top rankings across the nation.

Undergraduate students can participate in the Summer Research Opportunities Program, preparing them for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities. Last summer, the University hosted 250 students through its offered programming.

Doctoral students can apply for the Smithsonian Fellowship, a one-year fellowship supporting research in residence at Smithsonian Institution facilities, or the Traveling Scholars Program to spend up to two semesters at another Big Ten institution taking classes not offered at the University, with no change in registration procedures or additional tuition.

“These experiences, paired with collaborative teaching initiatives and curricular resources, enrich our classrooms by broadening scholarship beyond what a single university can offer,” says Ritter. 

Professional development

The BTAA nurtures collaboration across academic disciplines through faculty peer groups offering shared knowledge and support, cross-institutional grants and other means by group.

Regularly offered workshops, conferences and leadership programs tailored for faculty and staff at all career stages help employees stay at the forefront of best practices, leadership skills and emerging trends in higher education.

Materials access

Every BTAA institution is committed to the BIG Collection, a unified library that expands and ensures the longevity of both print and digital collections. Since 2019, university libraries have collaborated to craft this massive collection, which will represent roughly a quarter of all print titles in North America and be the third-largest library collection in the world. The process enables institutions to focus on expanding their collections in their areas of expertise and sharing resources across the Alliance.

BTAA members also benefit from the interlibrary loan system, with unparalleled access to materials that support teaching and research—including rare or specialized materials—  enhancing the depth and breadth of academic inquiry.

“Big Ten membership only strengthens the University’s commitment to research and discovery for the betterment of our state, nation and world,” says Ritter.

Being part of the Big Ten is not just about athletic rivalry; it’s about academic synergy. The shared mission, resources and collaborative spirit of the Big Ten enrich every facet of college life, supporting the success and growth of faculty, staff and students alike.

Learn more about the Big Ten Academic Alliance.