Chicago — One of higher education’s most maligned acronyms will be changed next year. The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, known as Nasulgc, announced today that it would become the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, or APLU, in April.

The new name comes with a new motto: “Advancing Research, Learning, and Engagement.”

Association officials made the announcement here at the group’s annual meeting. The public-university association, which was formed in 1887 and has 218 institutional members, began the name-change process last year. The group is angling for a more visible role and, not incidentally, a name that comes off the tongue somewhat more trippingly.

“We believe this new name will help those outside of higher education, in Congress, federal departments and agencies, and foundations to more readily recognize the association,” said M. Peter McPherson, the association’s president, in a written statement. —Paul Fain