Facts;
AAU is collaboration fo national research uinversities. They have standards for academics, research, outreach and an initiation that is open and diverse internationally.
AAU does not have an expansion plan, but rather, if a member (s) would like for a new institution to join, they must sponsor it. Several schools need be part of the partitioning. The Last time AAU was applied, I believe GT sponsored us, and I believe Maryland (that was before they left the ACC and previous president. It has been interesting, that UVA has not been supportive of the petitioning. hmmm...

Anyway VT review, (this was 2013 I believe, showed some deficiencies. one was lack of huge research and enterprise development, lack of vibrant graduate PhD programs and lack of diverse student and faculty at all levels.

look at the university in 2021, tremendous bump in research and enterprise development, leading with the Innovation campus in NOVA with amazon- a national platform. also vast growth in VT graduate Phd program (including medical school and number of Phd candidates and third vast improvements in enhancing diversity in student, under and graduate students and faculty and leadership. (it has had award winning). With this progress, I see the university working wiith it's peer institutions to resubmit.