The Central States Universities, Incorporated ( CSUI ) is a consortium of eleven universities dedicated to improving instructional and research programs in the sciences, mathematics, engineering for faculty members and students. Collectively, the member institutions serve over 291,000 students and have over 2700 science faculty in the midwest states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. The academic programs of the consortium range from a complete array of undergraduate programs through a broad range of doctoral programs and professional schools, including architecture, business, education, engineering, law and medicine.

CSUI plans and directs many programs, both on its own and in cooperation with the Argonne National Laboratory. Traditionally CSUI has concentrated its efforts in the biological and physical sciences, mathematics and engineering. The combined capabilities of the faculty and facilities of the CSUI institutions represent a rich reservoir of program possibilities. The coordination of institutional strengths into interinstitutional efforts is the goal of the CSUI because it makes possible programs that a single institution would not undertake alone, and it allows for the exchange of ideas between faculty members and the students from different institutional settings. The successes in the past lay the groundwork for further accomplishments in the furture, as CSUI contributes to the educational mission of each member institution.