The IEP designation program helps higher education institutions better know, measure, tell, and enhance their economic and community development impact while recognizing institutions that have demonstrated a substantive, sustainable, and institution-wide commitment to and strategy for regional economic engagement, growth, and economic opportunity.

Institutions complete a rigorous self-assessment, engaging on-campus and off-campus stakeholders, to identify the strengths of the university’s economic engagement enterprise and, importantly, areas for growth and improvement—all while sharing and learning from an international community of practice comprised of peers.

Central to IEP and the work of APLU in economic and community engagement is helping institutions better "know, measure, and tell the story of" their holistic "economic engagement" impact which is defined in three primary categories of work and their intersections:

• Talent and workforce development
• Innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development
• Place development through public service, outreach, extension, and community engagement

The IEP Universities program is open to both APLU member and non-APLU member institutions. 

Questions regarding the IEP Program? Contact the APLU IEP team at iep@aplu.org 

Learn more about applying for IEP Designation by reviewing the IEP designation guidelines found here.