Ivy League

The Ivy League is an athletics association, founded in 1954, of eight universities located in the eastern United States. The term has connotations of academic excellence, as well as a certain amount of elitism.

Terminology

Named after the ivy plants that traditionally cover their buildings, the term Ivy League was first coined informally to refer to these institutions of higher education which compete in both scholastics and sports. Formally, it also refers to the association of these schools in NCAA Division I athletic competition. The Ivy League universities are often simply called the Ivies or, affectionately, the Ancient Eight.

Related Topics:
Ivy - Higher education - Scholastics - Sport - NCAA - Division I - Athletic

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The term "Ivy League" refers strictly to the original eight universities. However, the prestige associated with the Ivy League has given rise to similar terms that connote perceived preeminence within various realms of American higher education: "Jesuit Ivy", "Little Ivies", "Public Ivies", etc. These terms are strictly colloquial and have no relation to the original eight schools.

Related Topics:
Jesuit Ivy - Little Ivies - Public Ivies - Colloquial

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