University World News\
As we explain in a recent American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) report on public trust, the administration’s criticisms of higher education aren’t necessarily the same things the public is worried about.
WGBH\
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said antisemitism must be confronted wherever it occurs on our campuses. However, she added that “the essential work of combating antisemitism must not be conflated with efforts to use federal civil rights law as a tool for political coercion or governmental control over colleges and universities.”
University Business\
When the American Association of Colleges and Universities released “The Trust Agenda” in June 2026, it traded defense for a plan. Rather than questioning eroding public confidence, AAC&U looked at what is happening inside higher education and offered five concrete strategies to earn trust back.
U.S. News & World Report\
Yet some groups suggested that the priorities outlined by the administration are already the focus of attention for university administrators. “The fact is that colleges and universities are already engaged in much of the work outlined in the Secretary’s Call to Action,” AAC&U wrote in a statement. “The questions raised in the Secretary’s Call to Action touch on issues that colleges and universities confront every day.”
Inside Higher Ed\
“While there is always room for improvement, it is disappointing that these longstanding commitments are framed in a way that calls into question the dedication of institutions and the millions of faculty, staff, and administrators who have devoted themselves to advancing educational opportunity, research, innovation, and the public good,” AAC&U president Lynn Pasquerella said.
Forbes\
Research summarized by the Association of American Colleges & Universities on the educational benefits of diversity concludes that students educated in heterogeneous learning environments show stronger critical thinking, greater civic engagement, and better preparation for leadership in a progressively interconnected society.