American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy, and Liberal Learning

In 1993, AAC&U launched the ambitious, multi-project initiative on American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy, and Liberal Learning to address fundamental questions about higher education in a diverse democracy and to provide resources for colleges and universities willing to engage those questions as dimensions of institutional mission, campus climate, and curricular focus.

What distinguishes AAC&U's leadership on diversity is our conviction that democracy cannot fulfill its aspirations without acknowledging diversity and that diversity finds a moral compass in democratic values and principles. Higher education, we believe, can nurture Americans' commitment and capacity to create a society in which democratic aspirations become democratic justice and diversity proves a means of forging a deeper civic unity.

The American Commitments initiative juxtaposes the egalitarian creeds and aspirations of democracy with the persistent and structural inequalities experienced by people of color and other marginalized groups in the United States. Against this background the initiative emphasizes the need for greater justice and new forms of intercultural community throughout all of United States society. Through their public leadership, concern for campus life, and, commitment to excellence in undergraduate learning, educators are challenged to foster the human capacities needed to build and sustain an egalitarian, multicultural democracy.

American Commitments has passed through many phases and projects since its inception. Through this initiative, AAC&U has established a national network of colleges and universities seeking to increase diversity on their campuses and in their curricula and to connect with a broader community. Over 160 institutions have been involved with the American Commitments initiative. It has supported faculty learning about cultural diversity and democratic pluralism. A primary goal of American Commitments is to graduate students who are prepared and inspired to contribute to the success of a just and diverse democracy.