The Cooperative Research Units (CRU) Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 440 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 41 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.