The Auxiliary University Programs (AUP) is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary-managed initiative established in 2007. Today the AUP has around 300 members in 18 units representing over 30 colleges and universities across the United States. The AUP prepares undergraduate and graduate students for future public service inside and outside of the Coast Guard. The AUP provides college students the opportunity to gain boating education, to learn about homeland security, and to gain operational leadership experience. The AUP has a positive track record of getting a large number of its graduates into Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, serving as the substitute for an official Coast Guard ROTC program. Members graduating from the AUP and choosing to enlist are automatically given an advancement to E-3 when joining.