Campus Conflict and Conversation Help Desk
Receive timely guidance on navigating conflict, difficult discussions, intimidation, and threats to the freedom to research, teach, or get help unifying your campus in defense of academic freedom.
Initiative
Institute for Democracy & Higher Education
Through research, resources, and practical support, IDHE helps colleges and universities meet their responsibility to educate for and engage with the challenges associated with a democracy in question.
US democracy is at a tipping point.
Most Americans say they want to live in a democracy, yet many feel our democracy has never functioned as it should. “We the people” can stand by and hope that democracy holds against challenges like weakened constitutional guardrails, backsliding civil rights, disinformation, extremism, and threats to academic freedom. Or we can work to redesign and defend a more aspirational democracy — one that works for everyone.
AAC&U's Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) supports educators and institutions in shaping an unabashedly pro-democracy future—one that values equity, truth, fairness, inclusion, compassion, accountability, and shared responsibility for each other, communities, the nation, and the globe.
This is not a partisan agenda—it is an American agenda.
Meet-the-Moment Work
Democracy Re/Designed
Leverage your college or university as civic infrastructure to support nationwide efforts in envisioning, co-creating, and realizing a more aspirational democracy.
Innovations in Pro-Democracy Teaching & Learning
Educate students across disciplines and career paths on living in and shaping a more aspirational democracy and shared future.
Pro-Democracy Ecosystem (Coming Soon!)
Explore what your campus is already doing—our “Pro-Democracy Ecosystem” highlights existing efforts and helps you find a place to augment or get started.
Other Focus Areas
Speech, Inclusion, and Academic Freedom
Is academic freedom a right or a responsibility? What is the educational approach to balancing speech and inclusion?
Politics 365
What's "in the water" at highly politically engaged campuses, especially those that have closed equity gaps in participation?
Talking Politics
How can educators be ready to talk about politically charged topics in and beyond the classroom?
Elections as Teachable Moments
How can campuses shift from viewing elections as "events" to viewing them as opportunities for sustainable change?
Institute Staff
Nancy Thomas
Senior Advisor to the President for Democracy Initiatives and Executive Director, IDHE
Bring IDHE to Your Campus
Whether virtually or in person, IDHE can visit your campus to lead a workshop on facilitating politically charged discussions, run Help Desk related workshops, or foster pro-democracy unity on your campus. Contact us at IDHE@aacu.org and let us know how we can help.
Support IDHE
Support great ideas! To grow AAC&U’s efforts to educate for more aspirational, inclusive, and robust democracy, please donate to the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education Fund.