ROSEMONT, Ill. – For more than a century, Big Ten universities have helped shape the United States, supporting growth and progress in all areas of American life – a mission that continues to this day.
 
The positive impact of the 18 universities in the Big Ten Conference over the course of American history is being highlighted in a new :30 ad in the "We Are Here" campaign.
 
One Big Ten member, Rutgers University, was founded before the United States declared independence in 1776, and over the years, Big Ten universities and their millions of alumni past and present have contributed to key moments in our nation’s story.
 
Big Ten university professors developed new crops that are feeding the world, while other Big Ten researchers developed technologies that helped the Allies win World War II and still others helped develop the Internet. Big Ten universities and their alumni have broken barriers to civil rights, led advances in fields ranging from aviation to medicine, shaped global arts and culture, and excelled in national and international athletic competitions. 
 
“The story of the Big Ten is a story of transformation and innovation. For decades, the students, faculty and alumni of Big Ten universities have helped solve some of our nation’s most pressing challenges, unlocked cures for cancer, powered American business, and inspired millions through athletics and the arts. Today, the wide-reaching impact of Big Ten universities continues to grow as we work to advance our nation’s prosperity and competitiveness for generations to come,” said Pamela Whitten, Indiana University President and Chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors.
 
Together, Big Ten universities enroll more than 810,000 students and have an 84% graduation rate, which is 20 points above the national average. There are more than 9.2 million living Big Ten university alumni. Big Ten universities conduct more than $17 billion in research, most of it sponsored by the American people, and collaborate on new cancer treatments through the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. 
 
“Since the establishment of the Big Ten Conference in 1896, its member institutions have worked tirelessly to lead from the front in many aspects including research, academics, public service and athletics, benefiting millions of students and alumni,” said Commissioner Tony Petitti. “The global impact our members make on a daily basis cannot be overstated and it is a story we are proud to help tell.”
 
The "We Are Here" campaign launched in fall 2025. Previous ads highlighted the ways that Big Ten universities help create health and prosperity in their communities and prepare students for successful lives and careers.
 
Like its predecessors, this ad will air on linear and digital platforms during sporting events featuring Big Ten universities, utilizing airtime allocated to the Conference as part of its media agreements, including the Big Ten Network (BTN). This initiative builds on other Conference efforts, including research vignettes highlighting the impact of university research that air during select BTN sporting event broadcasts.
 
As with the first two ads, this spot was developed by a creative team made up of staff from Big Ten member universities under the auspices of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. It is the third in a planned series of three ads, which over the course of the series features footage from all 18 universities.
 
About Big Ten Academic Alliance
The Big Ten Academic Alliance is the nation’s preeminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. For more than half a century, these world-class institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served the common good by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs. Governed and funded by the Provosts of the member universities, Big Ten Academic Alliance programs and initiatives are coordinated by a staff from its Champaign, Illinois headquarters. For more information, visit btaa.org
 
About Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, and the broad-based programs of the 18 Big Ten institutions provide direct financial support for more than 14,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit bigten.org.
 
Media Contacts:
 
Paul Kennedy, Big Ten Conference, pkennedy@bigten.org
Jack Martin, University of Washington, jacktm@uw.edu
 
Big Ten Member Universities:
·      Indiana University
·      Michigan State University
·      Northwestern University
·      The Ohio State University
·      Pennsylvania State University
·      Purdue University
·      Rutgers University-New Brunswick
·      University of California Los Angeles
·      University of Illinois
·      University of Iowa
·      University of Maryland
·      University of Michigan
·      University of Minnesota
·      University of Nebraska-Lincoln
·      University of Oregon
·      University of Southern California
·      University of Washington
·      University of Wisconsin-Madison