The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (the Consortium) is a nonprofit educational association of 24 colleges and universities, and the National Geographic Society, and the Smithsonian Institution in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and was established to drive collaboration in higher education across the National Capital Region. For more than half a century, it has evolved into a powerful, unifying voice for its member institutions—locally, regionally, and nationally—and a catalyst for expanding opportunity and promoting broad-based economic and workforce development.

Founded in 1964, the consortium facilitates the processing of course cross-registration between all member universities and universalizes library access among some of its member universities. It also provides joint procurement programs, joint academic initiatives and campus public safety training.

Nine of the Consortium members have formed the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). WRLC provides joint library services, student and faculty borrowing at the participating libraries, and other shared systems. Additionally, WRLC enables cooperative collection development and off-site storage services.

The Consortium Research Fellows Program is a partnership between the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area and several Department of Defense agencies which allows professors and students to work in DoD settings.

Member Universities & Colleges

Board Leadership

  • Chair: Irma Becerra, President, Marymount University
  • Vice Chair: Anne Kress, President, Northern Virginia Community College

Associate Members

Affiliate Members

Partners and parent organizations of member institutions

  • U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
  • U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Army Research Laboratory
  • Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division
  • Defense Manpower Data Center
  • Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

References

  • Consortium website