Inside Higher Ed\
Can You Build an Electric Race Car?
High-impact practices, as defined by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, includes 10 types of evidence-based learning techniques focused on applying theory to practice.
AAC&U in the News
Recent News
Inside Higher Ed\
Alger to Resign from American U to Become America 250 Fellow
After two years at the helm, American University president Jonathan Alger is stepping down to take a joint appointment announced by the American Council on Education and the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the university announced Wednesday.
New York Times\
Trump Administration Investigating Smith College Over Transgender Admissions
“This is an issue that affects a small number of individuals very deeply,” Dr. Pasquerella said. “But it will create uncertainty for transgender students and discourage them from applying, and that will be the real loss.”
Inside Higher Ed\
Smith College Faces Federal Investigation for Admitting Trans Women
“What we have seen [from the Trump administration] is attempts to use fear and intimidation,” Lynn Pasquerella said, referring to a slew of attacks on colleges last year due to their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The regulatory guidance and resulting investigations “were not based in the law, and yet they led to a flurry of overcompliance and overcorrection that eliminated DEI programs, initiatives, offices, curricula.”
Government Technology\
Implementing AI for Higher Ed: From the Top Down, or Bottom Up?
As colleges negotiate how to implement artificial intelligence, a question emerges: Is a top-down or bottom-up approach more effective? In a webinar series this week hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), AI facilitators at institutions of varying sizes and focus areas said that, ultimately, institutions will need to blend the two.
Inside Higher Ed\
Making Higher Ed More National (but Not Federal)
The teaching and learning space is extremely difficult to understand, to organize, let alone to corral in some way. Which is why efforts to improve it or “reform” it at any kind of systematic level have been so evasive, despite significant work by groups like the American Association of Colleges and Universities and many disciplinary associations.
Past News Items
- The Canadian Press \ April 25, 2026
Experts report a surge in interest among American academics looking to move to Canada
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, told The Canadian Press that many academics are feeling political pressure from state and federal governments to change what they teach and study. “Faculty members are not only experiencing burnout but extraordinary moral distress, where they feel coerced into making decisions they believe are unethical but they feel they have no choice,” Pasquerella said. - Business Insider \ April 23, 2026
Meet the graduating class of CollegeGPT
AI has democratized individualized tutoring of a sort, says Lynn Pasquerella, the president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. “If you can get instant explanations, instant feedback, and help with complex tasks, that can accelerate learning, and it makes students feel more comfortable experimenting and adapting, which are valuable skills in a rapidly changing workforce.” - University World News \ April 22, 2026
Shock greets ‘gender ideology’ ban in Texas universities
AAC&U president Lynn Pasquerella told University World News: “To proscribe or limit the teaching and discussion of certain topics, even when the content is central to the discipline, violates academic freedom and undermines shared governance, which accords faculty control over the curriculum based on their academic expertise, not political ideology.” - Axios \ April 16, 2026
Behind the Curtain: The kids aren’t AI-right
63% of faculty think their schools’ 2025 graduates were not very or not at all prepared to use AI at work, per an American Association of Colleges and Universities survey. - Forbes \ April 7, 2026
4 Education Trends That Could Shape the Next Generation of Employees
Civic engagement can also be a precursor to leadership development in the workplace, long term. According to an AAC&U survey, 94% of employers surveyed believe higher education should prepare students for the workforce and civic responsibility. - San Francisco Chronicle \ April 4, 2026
UC execs sit on boards of university vendors. A new bill would outlaw these financial ties
Another advantage to being on a company board is that university leaders can connect with industry trends and “innovation pipelines,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. Such relationships are seen as mutually beneficial, with companies gaining expertise from university leaders, “especially in areas like healthcare, artificial intelligence, and life sciences,” she said. - University World News \ April 2, 2026
17 states sue to block Trump’s HE admissions data demand
Speaking for the thousands of America’s institutions of higher learning, Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said: “On the procedural level, the states are arguing that the Department of Education changed reporting requirements without proper legal process…. But the bottom line is, this isn’t just about data. It's about whether the federal government can unilaterally shape how universities operate.” - Chronicle of Higher Education \ March 31, 2026
Colleges Need a New Sales Pitch
“It’s hard to focus on the long term, or even the medium term, when the short term is so awful,” said Jeremy C. Young, senior adviser for strategic initiatives at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - Insider Higher Ed \ March 27, 2026
Faculty Push Back Against OpenAI Deals
No matter a university’s financial picture, it’s crucial to keep faculty at the center of these decisions to provide campuswide access to ChatGPT Edu or the phalanx of other AI-powered learning tools emerging by the day, said C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - University Business \ March 26, 2026
Here are 3 ways to challenge harmful narratives about higher ed
Employers are also optimistic, with 70% having either “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in US higher education, according to a December 2025 survey from AAC&U. - Forbes \ March 25, 2026
Why AI Policy Is Really a Workforce Question for Higher Education
A 2026 AAC&U/Elon University survey of over 1,000 faculty found that 90% believe AI is weakening students’ critical thinking and 63% believe that 2025 graduates were not prepared for AI in the workplace. - MassLive \ March 23, 2026
Colleges are under pressure. What are they doing to reinvent themselves?
Heightened scrutiny of higher education makes this a critical moment for innovation, said Lynn Pasquerella, former president of Mount Holyoke College and current president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. “There is a real opportunity to revolutionize and reimagine higher education in ways that meet the equity imperative before us,” Pasquerella said. - MoneyLion \ March 19, 2026
Mark Cuban: ‘Don’t Apply for a Job with Me’ if You Don't Have This Valuable Asset
A survey from the American Association of Colleges and Universities revealed the aptitudes, or personality traits, most desirable to employers. The findings supported Lindo and Cuban's views. - The Evolllution \ March 17, 2026
Cuneiform Tablets Are More Useful Than Academic Transcripts
As the American Association of Colleges and Universities has long documented, employers are seeking evidence of skills, integrative learning, and applied knowledge, not course codes alone. - University Business \ March 12, 2026
Bridging talent gaps: How colleges can better serve the workforce
According to a 2023 employer survey and report from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, only half of employers believe college graduates are “very prepared” for the workforce when it comes to skills like oral and written communication, critical thinking and complex problem-solving. - Christian Science Monitor \ March 12, 2026
Epstein scandal prompts universities to rethink donor ties
“This certainly put the spotlight on the need for stronger donor vetting policies,” says Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and former president of Mount Holyoke College. “This requires a shift in the culture. It requires faculty and administrators to raise concerns about problematic donors.” - Higher Ed Jobs \ February 25, 2026
Practical Approaches to Leadership, Decision-Making, and Well-Being in Higher Ed
At the recent American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Annual Meeting, several senior higher education leaders shared insights on how they manage decision-making, protect their time, and lead effectively without burning out. - The PIE News \ February 23, 2026
US urged to face “hard truths” of shifting operating environment
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, highlighted the vital need for kinship in an increasingly distrustful and siloed operating environment. “Because in this post-truth era—in which controlling the narrative is more important than the facts—it doesn’t matter how much data you produce if we are not trusted messengers.” - EdTech Magazine \ February 18, 2026
Active Learning Classrooms Foster Collaboration Among Students
“With active learning, there’s a continuum of strategies and activities that faculty can use in their classrooms,” says Kate McConnell, vice president for curricular and pedagogical innovation at AAC&U. Space flexibility is one common theme, as students are often asked to move and mingle. And while technology isn’t required, when it’s used creatively and strategically, “its impact on learning can be significant,” McConnell notes. - The Hill \ February 18, 2026
College fundraising faces scrutiny after latest batch of Epstein files
“The Epstein case shows that reforms aren’t just about policies, they’re about organizational cultures, and so faculty and administrators need to be willing to raise concerns about problematic donors, and so that requires ongoing cultural development about the mission, vision and values of institutions,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. - Inside Higher Ed \ February 17, 2026
Flood the Zone
“The Agility Imperative,” a 2025 survey of 1,030 employers published by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, reinforces what higher ed thought leaders already understand—that students increasingly need diverse experiential opportunities to be competitive in today’s rapidly evolving labor market. - University World News \ February 13, 2026
Top Texas University Deepens Fears for ‘DEI’ Programmes
“While framed as neutral and efficiency-driven, the decision will inevitably be viewed against the backdrop of these particular fields being politically contested in Texas, said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. “Restructuring them amid legislative scrutiny raises understandable worries about indirect political influence and how structural consolidation increases institutional leverage over controversial scholarship, creating conditions that make long-term weakening of academic freedom and scholarly integrity more likely.” - Washington Post \ February 12, 2026
Academic independence must be protected. Here’s how.
While their critics tilt at windmills and outdated myths, university leaders stand together in defending American higher education from outside attacks — whether from the far right or far left. Universities, our nation’s most globally competitive sector, are outsmarting Trump with unified leadership. - University World News \ February 12, 2026
Reputational Fears at Texas A&M Amid Latest Programme Cut
“Courses in Women’s and Gender Studies contribute meaningfully to students’ understanding of history, society, health, culture, and civic life. The forced elimination of such programmes on ideological grounds prevents students from exposure to diverse perspectives, current scholarship, and thoughtful engagement with the complexities of a multifaceted world, necessary for thriving in work, citizenship, and life,” said Lynn Pasquarella, president of AAC&U. - CBC Radio \ February 11, 2026
Bishop's professor Jessica Riddel new Vice Chair of the American Association of Colleges and Universities
Professor Jessica Riddell from Bishop's University joins Breakaway host Alison Brunette to talk about where she finds hope, why she's decided to write several books on the subject, and about her new appointment as Vice Chair of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - WGBH \ February 06, 2026
Federal Education Department investigates Tufts over independent voter research
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said the threat of increased government oversight is nothing new. “We’ve come to expect that,” Pasquerella said, pointing to the Trump administration’s broader attacks on higher education. However, she added that “it’s the idea that nonpartisan research on civic participation could be treated as suspect simply because it relates to voting.” - Higher Ed Dive \ February 03, 2026
Top takeaways for college presidents from AAC&U’s conference
Every institution is unique, but fortunately, college leaders can learn from each other’s experiences. They had the opportunity to do just that at the American Association of Colleges and Universities′ annual meeting last month. - Higher Ed Dive \ January 30, 2026
How 3 college leaders work to boost economic mobility
A new analysis from nonprofit research firm Public Agenda examines, in part, how some colleges are tailoring their student support services to low-income students to improve their economic mobility. The presidents of three of those institutions spoke to attendees at the American Association of Colleges and Universities′ annual conference last week about practical ways they work to improve student outcomes. - University World News \ January 30, 2026
HE leaders alarmed by Texas ban on skilled foreign workers
Students, some of whom are in the United States on visas (particularly those from traditionally under-represented communities like Latina/Latino Americans who are first-generation students), are feeling vulnerable, according to AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. These feelings are exacerbated by the continuing arrests by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents, even of American citizens whose skin colour is taken to mean this person is not an American. - University World News \ January 28, 2026
Over 90% of Faculty Say GenAI Is Killing Critical Thinking
Dr. C Edward Watson, the AAC&U’s vice-president for digital innovation, who co-authored the AI Challenge, told University World News that the student who uses GenAI to provide a one-page or half-page summary of an article could be said to be using AI productively, except that getting the gist is no replacement for “squeezing the juice out of an article” by reading it. - Forbes \ January 28, 2026
90% Of Faculty Say AI Is Weakening Student Learning: How Higher Ed Can Reverse It
Ninety percent of faculty say that AI is weakening critical thinking; a core component of higher-order student learning. This is according to a January 2026 survey of 1,057 faculty members conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon University. That concern is echoed globally. - New York Times \ January 27, 2026
Texas Moves to Curtail Visas for Skilled Foreign Workers
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, said the political uncertainty created by Mr. Abbott’s move discourages global talent from choosing American schools. “Reductions in hiring could weaken research output, slow innovation and make Texas institutions less competitive nationally,” she said in an email, adding that Mr. Abbott’s move was “another example of government overreach.” - Higher Ed Dive \ January 27, 2026
How College Leaders Decide When to Speak Out
College presidents at the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ annual conference advised others to look to their mission as their North Star. - Fox News \ January 23, 2026
95% of faculty say AI making students dangerously dependent on technology for learning: survey
A new survey from the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center found that an overwhelming majority of college faculty are concerned that artificial intelligence is harming students’ critical thinking abilities. - Higher Ed Dive \ January 23, 2026
‘The pace is relentless’: How college leaders are adapting to an increasingly hectic job
“Leadership right now is not just demanding. It is cognitively and emotionally dense,” Francine Conway, chancellor of Rutgers University–New Brunswick, said Thursday at the American Association of Colleges and Universities′ annual conference in Washington, D.C. During a standing-room-only panel, Conway and other senior college officials offered attendees practical solutions to solving some of the most prosaic day-to-day challenges that can slow leaders — and their institutions — down. - Inside Higher Ed \ January 23, 2026
Higher Ed Urged to ‘Stand Up’ to Government Attacks
A free expression lawyer, a university system leader and a civil rights activist were unified in their call to higher ed leaders to “stand up” against violations of First Amendment rights and the stifling of free speech on campuses at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. - University Business \ January 21, 2026
Faculty worry there are several ways AI is harming students
Most faculty members worry students’ overreliance on generative AI will come at the cost of their ability to think critically and other skills. Faculty also fear these tech tools will shorten students’ attention spans, erode academic integrity and lessen the value of college degrees, a new American Association of Colleges and Universities survey finds. - The EDU Ledger \ January 21, 2026
Faculty Express Deep Concern Over AI's Impact on Higher Education
"When more than nine in ten faculty warn that generative AI may weaken critical thinking and increase student overreliance, it is clear that higher education is at an inflection point," said Eddie Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U. - The Chronicle of Higher Education \ January 21, 2026
Faculty Are Overwhelmed and Conflicted by AI, Survey Shows
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said she was not surprised that many instructors feel that their colleges provide too little support around AI. Given the number of challenges colleges face today, it’s easy for AI to fall off the list of most-pressing concerns. - Inside Higher Ed \ January 21, 2026
Survey: Faculty Say AI Is Impactful—But Not in a Good Way
Nine in 10 faculty members say that generative AI will diminish students’ critical thinking skills, and 95 percent say its impact will increase students’ overreliance on AI tools over time, according to a report out today from the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon University. - New York Magazine \ January 20, 2026
What Is College for in the Age of AI?
A study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon University found that fewer than half of college leaders say their campuses were ready to use AI to prepare students for the future. - Inside Higher Ed \ January 20, 2026
4 Takeaways from Trump’s First Year in Office
Notably, hundreds of higher ed leaders added their signatures to a letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities condemning “unprecedented government overreach” in higher education. - University World News \ January 14, 2026
Ban on Plato Readings Leaves Academics Asking Who’s Next
Lynn Pasquarella, president of AAC&U, told University World News that “this case is a good illustration of how vague and overbroad policies can have a chilling effect or lead to overcompliance in which administrators err on the side of elimination rather than clarification.” - Nature \ January 14, 2026
Six Steps to Protect Researchers’ Digital Security
Academics around the world are increasingly under fire. In January 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities published a survey that found that 53% of US faculty members were worried that their work would make them targets of harassment. - The Hill \ January 7, 2026
Advocates urge colleges to step up their fight against Trump
“One of the lessons is that universities should invest in strong legal and policy teams and build contingency plans for sudden retaliatory shifts. I think last year many campus leaders thought if they kept their head down, mind their own business, that they wouldn’t be attacked. But that wasn’t the case,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
Archive
- Inside Higher Ed \ December 18, 2025
Higher Ed Faces Competing Visions for Its Future
Dozens of presidents in the AAC&U and the Phi Beta Kappa society issued a list of the “enduring principles” that higher ed embraces when it’s fulfilling the public trust. The commitments included affordability, opportunity, excellence and partnership. AAC&U also launched its Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education initiative. - HR Dive \ December 16, 2025
Employers Want Proof: Are Candidates Ready for the Job?
Employers also said teamwork, oral and written communication, locating and evaluating information, analyzing and solving complex problems, critical thinking, and ethical judgment and decision-making were desired skills, according to the American Association of Colleges and Universities poll. - The EDU Ledge \ December 12, 2025
Employers Express Strong Confidence in Higher Education Despite Public Skepticism, New Survey Finds
The survey, commissioned by the American Association of Colleges & Universities and conducted in August by Morning Consult, found that 70 percent of employers have either "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in U.S. higher education. - University World News \ December 11, 2025
70% of Employers Have Confidence in Universities – Survey
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the AAC&U, said the study “creates a more expansive narrative around the value of a college degree and whether we’re actually delivering the promise that we’ve made to our students and society.” […] “It’s an opportunity to tell a fuller, richer story of the value of higher education in America.” - Chronicle of Higher Education \ December 11, 2025
Employers love college
Employers give higher ed a vote of confidence, according to a survey released today by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - Inside Higher Ed \ December 11, 2025
Most Employers Confident in Higher Ed
While fewer than half of Americans have confidence in higher education, new data shows that 85 percent of employers believe colleges and universities are adequately preparing students for the workforce. - Inside Higher Ed \ December 11, 2025
Stop Blaming AI. Start Preparing Students for Work
A survey of employers released this week by the American Association of Colleges and Universities showed that college graduates who are proficient in applying knowledge to the real world and who understand teamwork are the most likely to be hired. - Higher Ed Dive \ December 11, 2025
7 in 10 employers have high confidence in higher ed, survey finds
The results from AAC&U and Morning Consult contrast sharply with recent surveys that show the public is continuing to question whether higher education is worth the price. - University World News \ November 27, 2025
Outcry Over Plan to Alter What Counts as Professional Degree
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, is also concerned by the effect of the DoE’s definitions, especially in regard to health science graduate degrees—and sees in the RISE committee’s decision another attack on higher education by an administration which has been hostile to American academe since taking office in January. - University World News \ November 16, 2025
Magna Charta Signatories Top 1,000 Amid Growing Threats
Highlighting the tense context of Trump’s “fire hose” of executive orders, court cases and funding threats against colleges in the US, Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, warned of universities facing an “existential crisis” that was taking a heavy personal toll on the country’s university leaders. - University World News \ November 16, 2025
Trump Poses “Existential threat” to HE and Democracy
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said the weakening of US higher education’s global orientation or institutional independence has ripple effects that reach far beyond the US. - Wall Street Journal \ November 09, 2025
How Yale Escaped the Crackdown on Higher Education
President Maurie McInnis has made public statements. She joined scores of university presidents in signing an American Association of Colleges and Universities’ statement condemning “undue government intrusion.” - Insider Higher Ed \ November 06, 2025
It's Time to Pull the Fire Alarm
Statements organized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education on the proposed compact for higher education make our sector’s stances clear. - Chronicle of Higher Education \ November 04, 2025
AI Has Joined the Faculty
C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at AAC&U, says he reminds college leaders that the greatest predictor of student success is the quality of the professor. AI will be most effective, he tells them, not by allowing colleges to increase class sizes, but by magnifying the impact of the professor. - New York Times \ October 29, 2025
Florida Universities to Stop Hiring Foreign H-1B Workers Under DeSantis Plan
“Limiting H-1B visas in Florida would threaten the public purpose of higher education in the state by undermining the ability to recruit and retain top international faculty, researchers and students,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. - Inside Higher Ed \ October 23, 2025
In Fourth Week, Government Shutdown Increasingly Hinders Higher Ed
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said the shutdown means continued financial uncertainty, not just for institutions and researchers—who may struggle with financial planning if grants aren’t being renewed, as well as with cash flow—but also for students who rely on Federal Work-Study and other student aid. - Phoenix Business Journal \ October 22, 2025
Arizona legislators urge ASU to reject Trump's higher education compact
“We stand with these institutions, as well as the American Council on Education, American Association of Colleges and Universities, American Association of Community Colleges, Association of American Law Schools, and more than 100 other organizations that view this compact as an attempt to undermine the virtue and quality of higher education.” - Chronicle of Higher Education \ October 22, 2025
Why the Compact Failed: Colleges led the way in bucking Trump’s authoritarian incursions.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities, an umbrella group of about 1,000 higher-education institutions, issued a thunderous rebuke of the compact within 48 hours. - Cronkite News \ October 22, 2025
University of Arizona rejects Trump education compact, says research funds should hinge only on merit
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, called the proposal a “weaponization” of federal funding. “There are elements that I think every leader in higher education would agree with – affordability and accountability. But as framed now, it would involve unprecedented intrusion into nearly every aspect of college and university operations, from admissions to the curriculum, in ways that infringe upon academic freedom, institutional autonomy and shared governance.” - Higher Ed Dive \ October 20, 2025
'Nothing less than government control': Higher ed responds to Trump's compact
The American Association of Colleges and Universities and Phi Beta Kappa Society offered their own alternative compact between colleges and the country based on a handful of principles, including opportunity, affordability, freedom and security. - The Hill \ October 20, 2025
Universities give cold shoulder to Trump compact offer
“I think they did underestimate the resistance that they would get and the willingness of institutions across the country to stand together in support of our core values,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. - The Chronicle of Higher Education \ October 20, 2025
U. of Virginia and Dartmouth Reject Compact as Trump Invites Some Colleges to Meet
Also on Friday, AAC&U and the Phi Beta Kappa Society issued a joint statement outlining the “enduring principles” that have served higher education and the nation “so well for generations,” many of which they argue the compact defies. - Inside Higher Ed \ October 17, 2025
As Compact Deadline Nears, White House Meets with University Leaders
AAC&U released a statement that sharply criticized the compact. The statement said in part that college and university presidents “cannot trade academic freedom for federal funding” and that institutions shouldn’t be subject “to the changing priorities of successive administrations.” Nearly 150 college presidents and associations have endorsed that statement. - University Business \ October 16, 2025
What even is work-based learning? Here's a guide.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities includes internships, service learning and collaborative projects among its widely cited “high-impact practices” that enhance student engagement and learning. - Forbes \ October 15, 2025
Trump Ramps Up Pressure, Extends Higher Ed Compact to All Institutions
In a statement endorsed by dozens of college and university presidents, AAC&U described the compact as an attempt by the administration to “impose its own ideologically driven vision for higher education through unilateral executive action and the coercive use of public funding.” - Inside Higher Ed \ October 15, 2025
Deciphering Trump’s Compact Invitation to All of Higher Ed
Dozens of college leaders endorsed an October 3 statement from AAC&U that sharply criticized the compact. The statement said in part that college and university presidents “cannot trade academic freedom for federal funding” and that institutions shouldn’t be subject “to the changing priorities of successive administrations.” - Chronicle of Higher Education \ October 14, 2025
Dartmouth’s President Balks at Trump Compact, Sources Say, as Feds Expand Offer to ‘Any Institution’
AAC&U released a statement this month condemning the compact as a high-stakes “ultimatum.” It was endorsed by more than 80 current and former college presidents and leaders of higher-education associations. Pasquerella said that her organization continues to convene presidents to discuss the sector’s shared response to the compact. - University World News \ October 08, 2025
HE leaders brand Trump’s compact for HE as ‘extortion’
With considerable understatement, AAC&U said the compact “is not constructive engagement” and said as “stewards of America’s system of higher education, college and university presidents cannot bargain with the essential freedom of colleges and universities to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit, and what is taught, how and by whom” – a gloss on a number of Supreme Court decisions that have defined academic freedom dating back more than half a century. - Inside Higher Ed \ October 08, 2025
With Compact, Universities Weigh Whether to Give Up Freedoms for Unknown Payout
“Part of the strategy, I believe, of this administration is to engage in overly broad, overly vague language that is confusing so it’s not clear when institutions are complying,” Pasquerella said—a form of jawboning that pressures universities to overcomply. - New York Times \ October 08, 2025
Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Could Strain Universities and Schools
“It’s not as if this is done on a whim because we’re trying to replace American workers,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. “It is done based on what the Trump administration is calling for — on merit and who’s the most qualified.” - MassLive \ October 07, 2025
This isn’t Rate My Professor: Explosion in watchlists brings new threats to academics
“While students are adults and legally responsible for their actions, it’s not productive to single out individual students as though they were the governor of a state,” AAC&U Senior Advisor Jeremy Young said. - Inside Higher Ed \ October 06, 2025
ED Pushes Workforce Readiness as a Priority
“We know that employers are insisting that their employees be able to speak across differences, work in diverse teams and engage in cross-cultural understanding,” based on surveys AAC&U conducts with employers, Lynn Pasquerella said. - Inside Higher Ed \ October 06, 2025
Higher Ed Sounds Off on Proposed Compact
AAC&U warned college presidents against trading academic freedom for federal funding and abandoning “the American model of self-governance, which guarantees meaningful roles for faculty, administration, and governing boards in academic and institutional decision-making.” - The EDU Ledger \ October 05, 2025
Higher Education Leaders Reject Trump Administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence"
The Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) issued a lengthy statement condemning the compact as fundamentally incompatible with constructive engagement. - Higher Ed Dive \ October 03, 2025
Newsom vows to pull state funding from California colleges that sign Trump’s compact
“College and university presidents cannot bargain with the essential freedom of colleges and universities to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom,” the American Association of Colleges and Universities said in a statement Friday. - Forbes \ October 02, 2025
How AI Is Rewriting the Future of Humanities Education
C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities, cautions that the very skills most critical for navigating an AI-integrated workplace are the ones cultivated through the humanities. - University World News \ October 02, 2025
Court rules against Trump’s student deportation efforts
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities: “Judge Young’s ruling, which rebukes ideological deportations, is a compelling victory for academic freedom and democracy. - Times Higher Education \ October 01, 2025
Global Learning: An Emerging Transferable Skill for Students
For those new to global education, assessing students’ global learning might seem like a daunting task. Luckily, we can look to resources, such as the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ VALUE rubrics, that provide common frameworks and assessment criteria for global learning. - University World News \ September 26, 2025
Fears of ‘divide and conquer’ in Trump’s HBCU funding boost
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella noted the disconnect between increasing support for HBCUs at the same time that the government “seeks to eliminate all forms of diversity, equity and inclusion, and in fact, is rewriting history in ways that consign the stories of African Americans, Hispanics and other students of colour to the lower shelves of history.” - University World News \ September 24, 2025
Kirk assassination raises the political stakes for HE
Lynn Pasquerella: Kirk’s assassination “signals a new level of violence that has resulted from a new permission structure and a climate of exercising vitriol and threats against one’s political opponents. It’s a tragedy.” - The State News \ September 22, 2025
Professor watchlists’ are a thorn and threat for some faculty
AAC&U’s Ashley Finley said the combination of faculty watchlists, state legislation restricting curricula and worries of class material being shared online contributes to an “invisible battery drain” on faculty members. - Boston Globe \ September 22, 2025
If Harvard makes a deal with Trump, who decides whether the university is complying with the terms?
“An independent monitor represents not just compliance oversight, but a politically-charged intrusion that undermines universities’ core commitments to academic freedom, shared governance, and autonomy,” said Pasquerella. - Financial Times \ September 15, 2025
US Campuses Seek a Safe Space for Debate after Charlie Kirk’s Murder
“We still need to address the new permission structure that has been created for vitriolic rhetoric and violent reactions in response to political, social and cultural disagreement,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. - Mass Live \ September 14, 2025
College Majors Are Disappearing as Academia Tightens Its Belt
“Campuses are having to make up for lost revenue as a result of grants, donations that have also been weaponized, and they’re having to do more with less,” AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said. - Inside Higher Ed \ September 12, 2025
‘Weaponizing Antisemitism’: Campus Speech Under Siege
Provosts recognizing antisemitism as a problem in higher ed today isn’t necessarily “at odds with their disapproval of the tactics used by the Trump administration to punish institutions under the guise of antisemitism.” - University World News \ September 12, 2025
Cuts to minority-serving colleges to cause ‘immediate harm’
"The removal of federal discretionary funding for HSIs will cause immediate and significant harm,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - Chicago Tribune \ September 10, 2025
Now Is Not the Time for Universities to Retreat from the Humanities
“Decades of research from the American Association of Colleges and Universities show that liberal arts graduates, humanities majors among them, excel in exactly the skills employers most value.” - University World News \ September 07, 2025
Trump is ‘catalyst, not cause’ of HE decline – Pasquerella
“I think we're complicit, to a large extent, in failing to address the fact that higher education is too expensive, too difficult to access, and is not teaching students 21st century skills," says Lynn Pasquerella - Bloomberg News \ September 05, 2025
Football, Academics and No Politics: Vanderbilt Booms in Trump Era
“They're not opting out of the debate,” Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said of Vanderbilt. “They're taking a strong and clear stance against this resistance to governmental overreach.” - Time \ September 05, 2025
How Harvard Can Out-Negotiate Trump
AAC&U organized over 600 leaders of universities, colleges, community colleges, and higher education professional organizations to compose a letter denouncing the “undue government intrusion.” - University World News \ September 05, 2025
HE groups welcome court ruling on Harvard funding cuts
“Judge Burrough’s ruling is a decisive affirmation of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, constitutional integrity... and a rejection of the weaponization of antisemitism as political retaliation.” - Business Insider \ September 04, 2025
America’s Colleges Are Having an Identity Crisis
“We have to revolutionize and reimagine higher education in ways that connect curriculum to career,” says Lynn Pasquerella. “At the same time... students want more than just a job. They want lives of meaning and purpose.” - Inside Higher Ed \ September 03, 2025
State and Federal GOP Team Up to Change Policies Through Lawsuits
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella: “We’ve seen the settlements people are agreeing to … and what it does is it creates a precedent for further coercive bullying tactics.” - Inside Higher Ed \ September 03, 2025
Ohio State Bans Land Acknowledgments
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella: “Some would argue that adopting positions of neutrality in the face of racial and social injustice is not neutral at all—that it is, in and of itself, a political stance.” - The Hill \ August 29, 2025
Fallout for universities that struck deals with Trump raises questions, concerns
Lynn Pasquerella: “The concern is that these settlements will serve as coercive templates that could pressure dozens of other colleges and universities into accepting restrictive conditions for federal funding.” - The Guardian \ August 23, 2025
‘Everyone is coming into fire’: students return to US campuses bruised and changed by Trump’s assault
“There is already a chilling effect, fueled by fear and intimidation, that stifles the free exchange of ideas, weakens innovation and curtails global influence,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. - University World News \ August 20, 2025
“Obscene” executive order seen as “full-on assault on HE”
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella: “Replacing the judgement of scientific experts with that of political appointees will have a profound and lasting impact on research quality, public trust and innovation.” - The Baltimore Banner \ August 11, 2025
Morgan State Poised to Reach Elite Status Despite Trump Cuts
"David Wilson has been remarkable in investing in faculty research," AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said, adding that Morgan State’s investment in research "will help them drive local and regional economic development." - Politico \ August 10, 2025
Florida’s universities face research overhaul courtesy of Trump and DeSantis
“When you try to control what experts in scientific fields are researching, then you undermine the entire scientific enterprise,” said Lynn Pasquerella. - The Guardian \ August 6, 2025
US universities’ settlements with Trump “will only fuel his authoritarian appetite”
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says the settlements mark “a watershed moment for American higher education” and will “further embolden the administration to use coercive tactics against other institutions.” - Bloomberg \ August 04, 2025
Badly Bruised Universities Are Rushing to Cut Deals with Trump
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella: “The concern is the more we capitulate through making these agreements, the more the administration will be empowered to continue along these lines.” - Inside Higher Ed \ August 01, 2025
Faculty Latest Targets of Big Tech’s AI-ification of Higher Ed
“Our first job is to help faculty understand how students are using AI and how it’s changing the nature of thinking and work. The tools will be secondary,” said José Antonio Bowen, senior fellow at AAC&U. - Inside Higher Ed \ July 30, 2025
Justice Department Declares DEI Unlawful
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella: “What are described as ‘best practices and nonbinding suggestions’ will likely cause another wave of anticipatory compliance and overcorrection given the climate of fear and intimidation.” - Inside Higher Ed \ July 25, 2025
Columbia Deal a ‘Threat’ to Higher Ed, Experts Warn
“It signals a rise in authoritarian populism in which higher education is positioned as the enemy in a fight against corrupt, inefficient and elite institutions,” Lynn Pasquerella said. - The Hill \ July 25, 2025
Columbia Settlement Concerns Mount as McMahon Declares ‘Template’ for Other Schools
“One of the major concerns is that while there’s an agreement that’s been signed that the attacks on Columbia and other institutions of higher education won’t stop there,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Inside Higher Ed \ July 23, 2025
How Medicaid Cuts Undermine Belonging
Federal cuts to healthcare and food benefits reinforce the price of being poor in college, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella writes. - Philadelphia Inquirer \ July 23, 2025
This Pa. college made dramatic cuts to avoid closure. Experts say its financial future is still murky.
“It’s very difficult to cut your way to financial sustainability,” Pasquerella said. “It really does require an investment: alumni giving grants, support at the state and federal level.” - The New York Times \ July 20, 2025
How Medicaid Cuts Will Hurt College Students
In this letter to the editor, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella observes that “the message from cuts to Medicaid is loud and clear: If you are poor, you don’t belong in college.” - Inside Higher Ed \ July 17, 2025
Americans Recognize Nuances of Higher Ed’s Value
Despite political rhetoric that suggests otherwise, American higher education has delivered an array of personal and societal benefits for decades, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said during a news briefing on the report. - Washington Monthly \ July 17, 2025
Annual Heart of America Survey Portrays a Nation Seeking Unity
Lynn Pasquerella, President of AAC&U, is enthusiastic about how the survey results show the potential for a more aspirational future for today’s college students and the next generation. - Mass Live \ July 11, 2025
A reckoning: Trump’s attacks are inspiring self-reflection in higher ed
"I see the Trump administration taking advantage of growing mistrust of higher education for its own political aims, such as attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs," says Lynn Pasquerella. - The New York Times \ July 3, 2025
What the Republicans’ New Policy Bill Means for Higher Education
“The bill would make college less affordable,” said Lynn Pasquerella, adding that schools could become less economically and racially diverse. - The Art Newspaper \ July 3, 2025
Pennsylvania College Moves to Sell Its Entire Art Collection Amid $20m Budget Shortfall
Lynn Pasquerella rejected the idea that institutions must choose between educating students and maintaining/developing museum collections, preferring that colleges “work collaboratively” to strengthen the academic experience. - Mass Live \ June 26, 2025
Should Harvard enter into a deal with the Trump administration?
Lynn Pasquerella said that Harvard’s president has been mindful of the impact of compromising academic freedom thus far and [she] hopes the institution continues not to capitulate to the federal government’s demands. - The Hill \ June 26, 2025
Colleges nervously await Trump-Harvard deal
This is a really crucible moment for Garber in terms of his leadership and the leadership of higher education in general. - Rewire News Group \ June 13, 2025
‘I’ve Never Seen Such a Threat on Higher Ed’: How Universities Are Fighting Trump’s Attacks
“We are the envy of the world, because our educational systems have been free from unwarranted political interference and ideological agendas," says Lynn Pasquerella. - The National News Desk \ June 4, 2025
Is AI Making Students Less Smart?
Eddie Watson, AAC&U vice president for digital innovation, calls generative AI “the Grand Challenge” for higher education and K-12 — and says it can only be addressed by understanding what it can do. - CNN \ June 3, 2025
In the battle between Harvard and the Trump administration, the goalposts keep moving
“This is part of the strategy they have been employing, which is a flood-the-zone strategy with a barrage of attacks and a sense of uncertainty about what’s coming next or how one could even respond,” Lynn Pasquerella said. - Reuters \ May 29, 2025
Judge blocks Trump ban on Harvard's international students
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella on the consequences of Trump’s ban: “Chinese students, in particular, now that they're being faced with hyper-scrutiny, are looking elsewhere. That is a huge loss for us. It's a brain drain." - Research Professional News \ May 29, 2025
Federal agencies ordered to sever contracts with Harvard
Lynn Pasquerella: The Trump administration’s actions against Harvard “carry the potential for a profound and lasting impact on the strength of American higher education and its fundamental mission of serving the public good.” - U.S. News \ May 28, 2025
Q&A: Artificial Intelligence in Education and What Lies Ahead
“We have an AI space race that's taking place right now,” says AAC&U Vice President for Digital Innovation C. Edward Watson, on why AI literacy is becoming essential in US education. - Inside Higher Ed \ May 28, 2025
The Agenda Behind Accreditation ‘Reform’
Accreditation reform doesn't have to mean giving in to politics. Institutions can take the lead through collaborative networks and initiatives like AAC&U’s TLA Framework, VALUE Scoring Collaborative, and other events. - The Chronicle of Higher Education \ May 21, 2025
How UVa Alums Put DEI — and a President — in the Justice Dept.’s Crosshairs
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, called the UVa demands “a troubling example” of government overreach. - The Hill \ May 19, 2025
Colleges to use summer break to regroup after rough start with Trump
Schools “absolutely should be thinking strategically in both the short and long term about the current effects on higher education and what it means for moving forward...,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Newsweek \ May 16, 2025
College Students Want Their Money Back After Professor Caught Using ChatGPT
"The challenge now is turning today's disruption into tomorrow's innovation in teaching and learning," says AAC&U Vice President for Digital Innovation C. Edward Watson. - EdTech \ May 15, 2025
Colleges and Universities Offer Faculty Development for AI Use in the Classroom
A survey conducted by AAC&U and Elon University revealed that faculty unfamiliarity is a major obstacle to integrating AI tools in higher education, even as student demand continues to rise. - Inside Higher Ed \ May 15, 2025
FIRE: 600 Students Punished for Protected Speech Since 2020
“Every individual leader must ground their [actions] in the mission of their institution, which must include academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Ms. Magazine / May 13, 2025
The National Science Foundation Canceled Our Grant Because It Focused on Women
AAC&U Vice President for Undergraduate STEM Education and coeditor of the ADVANCE Journal, Kelly Mack, bands with fellow scholars to write about the impact of losing National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. - Financial Times / May 12, 2025
Letter: Trump Attack on Academic Freedom ‘Must Be Resisted’
“We welcome recent collective action across the higher education sector in the US, including the statement published on April 22 by AAC&U,” write academic staff at the University of Oxford. - Bloomberg Law / May 9, 2025
‘Shiny Object’ Harvard Masks Trump Threats to Howard, HBCUs
Federal funding cuts and other policy changes “disproportionately” affect students at HBCUs. - The Associated Press / May 9, 2025
Donald Trump Is Losing His College Fight in the Eyes of Voters: Poll
More than half of US adults disapprove of President Trump’s approach to higher education, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. - Inside Higher Ed / May 7, 2025
Deciphering the Trump Administration’s Latest Letter to Harvard
“This is not accidental. It’s not in response to Hamas’s attacks on Israel or the reactions of people at Harvard. This is part of the playbook outlined in Project 2025,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Time / May 6, 2025
Harvard vs. Trump: A Timeline of Escalating Federal Pressure on America's Top University
The timeline includes Harvard signing "A Call for Constructive Engagement," a public statement signed by more than 500 higher education leaders and distributed by AAC&U on April 22. - The New York Times / May 6, 2025
What Happened When Trump Altered the Deal with Law Firms and Universities
Does the prisoner's dilemma thought experiment apply when the rules break down? - The Guardian / May 2, 2025
The Way Universities Can Survive the Trump Era? Band Together in an Alliance
NATO for higher education—a mutual defense pact is a long-shot approach, but it might just convince the bully in the White House to back off. - The Atlantic / April 30, 2025
The Dark Ages Are Back
Americans must insist on academic freedom, or risk losing what makes our nation great. - The New York Times / April 28, 2025
Feeling Political Heat, Colleges Pump Up Their Lobbying
"We have to partner with legislators, business leaders, and people across all sectors in making the case about why this is a good investment," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The New York Times / April 27, 2025
Emerging From a Collective Silence, Universities Organize to Fight Trump
The joint statement distributed by AAC&U and signed by more than 400 higher education leaders was an “unusual show of unity considering the wide cross-section of interests it included.” - The Guardian / April 27, 2025
Hope As Universities Find 'Backbone' Against Trump's Assault on Education
"I think now that we've seen Harvard stand up and push back against unwarranted government intrusion, that we'll see more of this moving forward," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Mother Jones / April 25, 2025
At Last, College Presidents Are Standing Up to Trump
"The letter these hundreds of presidents have been signing is not strident or impolite; it acknowledges that there's always room for improvement in any institution, but it definitely gets the point solidly across." - Mass Live / April 24, 2025
Could Trump's Crackdown on Foreign Students Exacerbate Declining College Enrollment?
"When we look at alternative sources of revenue, campus leaders are looking at recruiting international students who often are full-pay students," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - If you can keep it / April 24, 2025
A Natural Experiment in How to Survive Trumpism
Harvard's decision [to file a lawsuit] "started an avalanche," including a public statement distributed by AAC&U and signed by more than 400 higher education leaders. - James Fallows Breaking the News / April 23, 2025
From Academia, a 'Primal Scream.'
Watch in real time as American higher ed goes on offense to defend itself. - MSNBC / April 22, 2025
The Rachel Maddow Show
“We must ask communities what do you need from us as opposed to telling people what we’re good at. That will go a long way in restoring public trust in the promise of higher education,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - NBC Nightly News / April 22, 2025
Over 150 College Presidents Sign Letter Rebuking Trump Administration ‘Overreach’
“This notion that we are bastions of liberal progressivism intent on tearing apart the fabric of American society is a false narrative,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - NPR / April 22, 2025
Harvard Sues Trump Administration to Halt Freeze of More Than $2 Billion
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says most schools cannot afford to take on the government, but they also can't afford to be silent. "Schools need to exercise moral courage at this time." - The New York Times / April 22, 2025
More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump 'Overreach'
"We must oppose undue government intrusion into the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses," higher education leaders wrote in a statement circulated by AAC&U. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / April 22, 2025
More Than 200 Higher-Ed Leaders Decry Trump Administration's 'Unprecedented Government Overreach'
"A line had been crossed in terms of the actions that had been taken against these institutions" and a collective statement was warranted, says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - PBS / April 22, 2025
Read the Full Letter from Universities Opposing 'Government Intrusion'
We must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses," the letter, released by AAC&U, stated. - NPR / April 22, 2025
Inside Harvard's Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration
In addition to Harvard's Lawsuit, more than 250 higher education leaders released a joint statement organized by AAC&U. - The Philadelphia Inquirer / April 22, 2025
College Presidents, Including Penn's Jameson, Sign Statement Critical of Trump Administration's 'Undue Government Intrusion'
Several Philadelphia-area colleges and universities joined other higher education leaders around the country who penned a statement critical of "undue government intrusion" in their operations. - The Guardian / April 22, 2025
Over 150 US University Presidents Sign Letter Decrying Trump Administration
"The joint condemnation followed a convening of leaders called by AAC&U and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to 'come together to speak out at this moment of enormity,'" says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Reuters / April 22, 2025
US Academic Leaders Unite Against Trump's Higher Education Policies
The statement criticizes "the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education." - WBUR's Here & Now / April 22, 2025
170+ Colleges and Universities Call for 'Constructive Engagement' with Trump Administration
"They seek to destroy us and replace what they consider a liberal ideology with their own conservative ideology," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Financial Times / April 22, 2025
Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Freeze
Following Harvard’s action, more than 150 university leaders issued a joint statement through AAC&U expressing opposition to “undue government intrusion” on their campuses and “the coercive use of public research funding.” - WGBH / April 22, 2025
College Presidents Sign Letter of 'Moral Courage' and Condemn Trump's Actions
“The moral courage that President Garber exercised is significant in leading the way to say that we each need to exercise that same type of moral courage,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Mass Live / April 22, 2025
'An Attack on All of Us': Nearly 200 College Presidents Challenge Trump
When the letter was released early Tuesday, it was signed by about 100 higher-education leaders, but nearly 100 more leaders added their signatures in less than 24 hours. - Forbes / April 22, 2025
More Than 100 College Presidents Sign Statement Against Federal Overreach
"One of the greatest strengths of American higher education is the diversity of institutional types, anchored in a common commitment to serving the public good," AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said in a press release. - Newsweek / April 22, 2025
College Leaders Hit Back at Trump in Joint Letter: 'Political Interference'
AAC&U and other signatories have called for a "constructive engagement" process to resolve disputes through consultation and oversight reform, not unilateral directives. - Mass Live / April 22, 2025
Mass. College Presidents Lead Pushback As Over 100 Leaders Call Out Trump's 'Overreach'
“There's an increase in momentum and I think Harvard standing up to the Trump administration has catalyzed these efforts," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Inside Higher Ed / April 22, 2025
Presidents Condemn ‘Unprecedented Government Overreach’
“The widespread support this statement has garnered demonstrates that despite differences in our respective missions, there is a willingness to speak collectively and act in solidarity,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Harvard Crimson / April 22, 2025
Garber Joins More Than 180 University Leaders in Statement Against 'Political Interference' With Higher Ed
President Garber's decision to sign the letter marks the first instance of Harvard joining institutions in directly challenging the Trump administration. - University World News / April 22, 2025
HE Leaders Unite Over Trump's 'Overreach and Interference'
We recognized that this is a moment of enormity and that we cannot afford not to speak out and be silent about what's happening," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - WAGM (Maine) / April 18, 2025
Embracing AI in the Classroom
I'm beginning to think that AI is essential learning for college students--that leaving college today without any skills associated with AI probably puts a student at a disadvantage," says AAC&U's C. Edward Watson. - The State News / April 16, 2025
Why Are Conservative Students Putting Their Professors on Blast?
AAC&U’s Ashley Finley says social media has turned once-private classroom conversations into national debates. "When you open it up, it can feel like a loss of control, like a loss of the ability to try and to fail." - Boston Globe / April 14, 2025
With Federal Money, Universities Helped Make America Great. Trump Is Threatening That.
Critics, including AAC&U, say the deep cuts to NEH, which has supported research and learning at colleges since 1965, "will ripple across American life." - Inside Higher Ed / April 14, 2025
'Draconian' Layoffs, Grant Terminations Come for the NEH
Critics, including AAC&U, say the deep cuts to NEH, which has supported research and learning at colleges since 1965, "will ripple across American life." - Fortune / April 8, 2025
Former College and University Presidents: Higher Education Must Do Better, but Politically Driven Government Intervention Is Not the Solution
Former college and university presidents who gathered recently at a meeting convened by the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, including Lynn Pasquerella, authored this commentary for Fortune. - Research Professional News / March 27, 2025
'Weaponization' of US Research Funding Risks 'Lasting Damage'
"We're seeing significant cuts in programs and jobs that I think will have an impact on higher education for the foreseeable future," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Reuters / March 27, 2025
These Universities Are in Trump's Crosshairs. Many Don't Know Why.
"That's part of the distress that they're experiencing, because they don't even know the nature and extent of the allegations against them," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / March 26, 2025
This State’s Public Universities Must Overhaul Academic Programs or Lose Millions in Funding
“It’s very easy to dismantle and tear apart. It’s much harder to rebuild,” says AAC&U’s Kate McConnell, describing a potential “law of unintended consequences” resulting from funding cuts. - Insight Into Diversity / March 25, 2025
Racial Healing Hubs Create a Culture of Connection
“We ask people to engage in narrative change that tells a fuller, richer, more complete story of our communities,” says President Lynn Pasquerella, describing AAC&U’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation™ Campus Centers. - Financial Times / March 21, 2025
Columbia University Cedes to Donald Trump's Demands with Series of Reforms
"This undermines the strength of American higher education, which presupposes freedom from unwarranted governmental intrusion and undue political influence over the curriculum," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / March 19, 2025
'We Have More Athletes Than We Have Fans'
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says institutional values and mission "should always be driving our allocation of scarce resources." - France24 / March 18, 2025
Trump Treatment of Columbia Puts U.S. Universities on Edge
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says the Trump administration’s demands "threaten to undermine the democratic purposes of higher education by impeding academic freedom." - Inside Higher Ed / March 18, 2025
How Can Deans Support Faculty Well-Being?
Liberal Education magazine’s recent issue on the mental health crisis features “five excellent pieces on how institutions can enhance student well-being,” writes the author of a Career Advice piece. - NPR / March 14, 2025
Over 50 Universities Are Under Investigation as Part of Trump’s Anti-DEI Crackdown
“They’re feeling beleaguered. They’re feeling overwhelmed,” AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says of the administrators of schools named in the inquiry. “There’s a deep sense of moral distress.” - The Hill / March 3, 2025
On Schools, Trump Talks DEI and Trans Athletes, Not Test Scores or Student Loans
"He is thinking that he's playing to the base, which is concerned about higher education as bastions of elite privilege and woke ideology,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Guardian / February 20, 2025
NIH Funding Cuts Are Trump’s Latest Attack on Education, Professors Say
“It has a major economic impact on colleges and universities—not only for scientific research by limiting overhead but on the humanities and social sciences as well,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / February 19, 2025
What College Leaders Are Saying About Trump’s Directive on Race and DEI
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella's message: “Don’t engage in preemptive compliance with laws that are not in place yet, especially when it means the marginalization and disenfranchisement of certain student populations.” - Inside Higher Ed / February 18, 2025
Why Should Faculty Bother with AI?
"We need to engender a mindset within our students that AI doesn’t do the work for them; rather, it works with them," says C. Edward Watson, AAC&U's Vice President for Digital Innovation. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / February 12, 2025
What You Need to Know as Linda McMahon Goes Before Congress
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says, "people are spending a good deal of time focusing on putting out fires and how they can respond to the latest executive order and not being able to focus on the day-to-day work.” - University Business / February 3, 2025
Leaders Still at a Loss on How to Beat AI Invasion
Concerns surrounding cheating and academic integrity continue to make leaders wary, according to a new national report by AAC&U and Elon University. - WGBH / January 30, 2025
College Leaders Decry Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Pro-Palestinian Activists
"President Trump continues to use inflammatory rhetoric that is chilling speech and creating a climate of fear and intimidation,” writes AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - 25 ABC News (Texas) / January 29, 2025
Leaders in Higher Education Discuss the Impact of Federal Funding for Our Learning Institutions
"It certainly caused widespread concern around the potential for a profound and lasting impact based on restrictions of funding especially on research," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - HigherEdJobs / January 29, 2025
AAC&U Annual Meeting Inspires Hope Amid Trying Times and Increased Public Criticism
"The best ideas and solutions rest in zip codes across this county that are underserved. Our job is to get there, provide access, and open doors," said plenary panelist CalState Fullerton President Ronald Rochon. - The Hechinger Report / January 27, 2025
Column: In Just One Week, Trump Created a New Culture of Anxiety in Education
Higher education leaders who attend AAC&U's 2025 Annual Meeting shared their thoughts with The Hechinger Report's editor-in-chief, who covered the meeting. - Higher Ed Dive / January 27, 2025
Polarization Is Battering Campuses. Here is How College Leaders Are Fighting Back.
College presidents discussed strategies for constructive debate at the 2025 AAC&U Annual Meeting. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / January 23, 2025
College Leaders Are Divided on the Risks and Benefits of Generative AI
A new survey of college leaders shows deep concerns and some stark divisions about how well they believe their institutions are preparing students and faculty members to use generative AI. - MassLive / January 23, 2025
AI is Leading to Cheating in Higher Ed—and Leaders Aren’t Prepared
“The challenge now is turning today’s disruption into tomorrow’s innovation in teaching and learning,” said C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U. - IBL News / January 23, 2025
AI Will Generate Better Student Learning Outcomes as Teaching Models Change, Says AAC&U
“The fact that 44% of institutions have already created AI-specific courses shows both the urgency and opportunity before us,” said C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U. - The Business Journals / January 23, 2025
Elon University Study: AI Is Cause for Concern, Optimism in Higher Education
Higher education officials are feeling the squeeze of artificial intelligence but think that the juice will be worth it, according to a new study by Elon University and the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - Washington Examiner / January 23, 2025
GenAI Tools Challenge Higher Ed Integrity
The report, “Leading Through Disruption,” assesses a future with better learning outcomes, positively affected student lives and instruction being better for assignments, teaching, learning and research. - The Economic Times / January 14, 2025
Is Academic Freedom on the Decline?
A new survey reveals that 35% of US college professors believe academic freedom has declined in the past six years. - Forbes / January 10, 2025
College Faculty Believe They’re Losing Academic Freedom, Finds Survey
According to a new national survey by AAC&U in collaboration with AAUP, significant percentages of faculty believe their academic freedom is declining. - Higher Ed Dive / January 10, 2025
One-Third of Faculty Report Recent Declines in Academic Freedom, Survey Finds
The results show an "alarming erosion" of faculty rights, according to the AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - INSIGHT Into Diversity / January 10, 2025
Survey Highlights Faculty Concerns on Academic Freedom
A national survey conducted by AAC&U reveals strong faculty support for free speech, diverse viewpoints, and civil discourse in college and university classrooms. - Inside Higher Ed / January 9, 2025
Watching Their Words: Faculty Say They’re Self-Censoring
AAC&U VP Ashley Finley says survey results show faculty feel they’re “working and educating in environments in which they need to be increasingly careful and aware . . . of the kinds of language that they are using.” - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / January 8, 2025
Academic Freedom Under Strain as One-Third of Faculty Report Growing Restrictions, National Survey Finds
"The results provide the most compelling evidence yet of the significant and alarming erosion of academic freedom across American higher education," said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / January 8, 2025
Many College Professors Say Their Academic Freedom Is In Decline, Study Finds
"Faculty have a running narrative in their mind about what they can or cannot say, or at least they’re mindful of that,” said Ashley Finley, AAC&U's vice president for research and senior advisor to the president. - Higher Ed Dive / January 2, 2025
Why More Colleges Are Embracing AI Offerings
“We can’t not lean in to provide students with the skills that we know they’re now expected to have when they graduate,” says AAC&U Vice President for Digital Innovation C. Edward Watson.
- Inside Higher Ed \ December 18, 2025
- The Hill / December 23
Will New Trump Immigration Policies Keep International Students out of the US?
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella discusses how college leaders, lobbyists and donors are growing anxious over the future of education under a second Trump administration. - Inside Higher Ed / December 19
How will AI influence higher ed in 2025?
AAC&U Senior Scholar Jose Antonio Bowen one of seven experts tapped to offer predictions on how AI will influence higher education in 2025. - NOTUS / December 2
Trump and Linda McMahon Are Poised to Reshape Higher Education
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says, “There’s skepticism around the value of a college degree, and they’re reinforcing this by … saying that higher education is the enemy.” - The Hill / November 30
Top 5 Education Policies Trump May Pursue His Second Term
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says actions imposed by the Trump Administration could erode “academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the democratic purposes of higher education.” - Folha de S. Paolo / November 27
Trump’s Election Leads to Fear of Interference and Cuts to American Universities
“There is concern about the promise to eliminate the Department of Education and what this can mean for the protection of students and teams,” says AAC&U Lynn Pasquerella. - The Hill / November 14
Donald Trump's return sparks concern for K-12 and colleges
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says threats to "tax endowments, impose budget reconciliation, and fine institutions" risk “eroding academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the democratic purposes of higher education.” - China Daily / November 12
Sun Yat-sen University Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella addressed attendees at the university’s innovation forum in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. “Sun Yat-sen University's research innovation . . . will benefit the nation and the world,” she said. - The New York Times / November 12
Colleges Wonder if They Will Be ‘the Enemy’ Under Trump
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says, “This is a moment of enormity for American higher education,” adding that many of President-Elect Trump’s top advisers seek to "dismantle higher education, not reform it." - Inside Higher Ed / November 8
Education-Level Voting Gaps Are Highest Among Men, White People
In an email to Inside Higher Ed, AAC&U's Nancy Thomas wrote, "These numbers make me curious about what influences [voters] . . . and their implications for education and democracy. The point is, there's a lot to consider." - USA Today / November 8
Trump's Win Could Spell the End of Biden's Higher Education Policies
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said the regulatory whiplash that will likely ensure over the next few years will be tough for colleges to process. "There's an extraordinary amount of moral distress," she said. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / November 1
On the Eve of a Tight Election, Higher Ed is Holding Its Breath
“The strength of democracy is contingent on the strength of higher education. Higher education is truly on the ballot," said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - University World News / October 26
Universities Grapple with Challenges to Freedom, Democracy
During a recent conference hosted by the Magna Charta Observatory and PEN America, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella noted a majority of faculty “are concerned about their ability to express what they believe as scholars." - The Hechinger Report and GBH News / October 17
The Politics of the College Presidency | College Uncovered, Season 3, Episode 6
In the latest College Uncovered episode, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella reflects on the evolving role of college presidents, emphasizing their commitment to thriving institutions amidst political and financial challenges. - Inside Higher Ed / October 7
Oct. 7 Kicked Off a Difficult Year for Higher Ed. How Should Universities Move Forward Now?
"This moment provides an opportunity to reaffirm higher education's public purpose as . . . an essential driver of social mobility, economic growth and national security," says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - NPR / October 5
Colleges Are Having Special Trainings for Incoming Students After the Year of Protests
Higher ed leaders like Lynn Pasquerella, president of AA&U, say if colleges don’t listen to their critics, they’ll be complicit in their own demise. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / October 3
The Future is Hybrid
“If you think about what students require post-graduation, it’s hard not to embrace AI as a learning outcome,” says C. Edward Watson, AAC&U's vice president for digital innovation. - Inside Higher Ed / September 26
AAC&U launches faculty help desk on campus conflict
“I’ve been doing this work for a long time, and what I’m worried about is the backdrop of fear and self-censorship on campuses,” Nancy Thomas, executive director of AAC&U’s IDHE, tells Inside Higher Ed. - The Hechinger Report and GBH News / September 19
The Politics of Protest | College Uncovered, Season 3, Episode 2
“We’re at a crucible moment in American higher education, and we must listen to the critics who are concerned. If we don’t, then we will be complicit in our own demise,” says AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The New York Times / September 14
Should a 'Diverse' Campus Mean More Conservatives?
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said calls for viewpoint diversity too readily play into caricatures of professors as wild-eyed radicals seeking to indoctrinate students. - Inside Higher Ed / September 13
AAC&U Launches Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum
“The rapid emergence of generative AI has resulted in profound opportunities and challenges for nearly all disciplines in higher education,” said C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at AAC&U. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / September 6
New Report Suggests How, Why to Promote Collegiate Civic Learning
The report comes from the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition, led by AAC&U, Campus Compact, College Promise, CCA, and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. - Inside Higher Ed / August 28
Can Professors Get STEM Students to Vote?
“You can help students learn about their responsibilities in democracy and it will affect both the Republican students and the Democrat students equally,” said Nancy Thomas, executive director of AAC&U’s IDHE. - Financial Times / August 25
How America’s Billionaire Alumni Weaponize Elite University Donations
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella tells the Financial Times she is concerned by “a new permission structure for the weaponization of donations” fueled by polarized politics ahead of the presidential election. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / August 21
Report Assesses Civics Education at Community Colleges
“This report demonstrates how community colleges continue to be at the forefront of civic efforts as foundational anchors within the communities they serve,” said AAC&U President, Lynn Pasquerella. - Inside Higher Ed / August 19
AAC&U, Elon University Launch AI Guide for Students
The new how-to guide will help students navigate AI effectively and ethically. - Mass Live / July 24
Will free community college hurt enrollment at 4-year universities? Here’s what we know.
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says that while free community college could benefit state and private institutions through transfer students, those students need seamless pathways to four-year institutions. - The Hechinger Report / July 16
OPINION: What Teachers Call AI Cheating, Leaders in the Workforce Might Call Progress
AAC&U VP Eddie Watson and Senior Scholar José Antonio Bowen explore what AI literacy might look like in a new era. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / July 10
Villarreal to Oversee AAC&U Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success
Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal will focus on advancing equity and student success efforts in service to undergraduate populations and academic excellence. - The University Business Podcast / June 11
Dissecting Mistrust in Higher Education with Lynn Pasquerella
“We need to stand up and defend the principles that caused us to enter leadership roles in the first place,” AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said in a May 21 podcast interview. - Inside Higher Ed / June 10
Colleges in Republicans’ Crosshairs Enroll a Sliver of U.S. College Students
“Ninety of the 4,000 colleges and universities have had protests on their campuses, and yet they’re presented as the norm and as what’s happening on college and university campuses,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Inside Higher Ed / May 22
Third Antisemitism Hearing Could Further Disrupt Higher Ed
AAC&U said that Congress is using campus responses to the Israel-Hamas war “as a pretext to exert political pressure on college and university leaders to restrict academic freedom and freedom of expression.” - Campus Technology / May 15
AAC&U Forms Office of Research and Public Purpose
The office, led by Ashley Finley, will focus on student career preparation, civic engagement, and well-being through collaborative research and campus programs. - Inside Higher Ed / May 14
Survey: Students Turn to Faculty for Career Advice
New research from AAC&U, NACE, and SEE shows how students and recent alumni look to their professors for help in their post-graduation plans. - Inside Higher Ed / May 8
Liberal Arts Microcredentials on the Rise
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella shares the competencies and dispositions employers increasingly seek in their employees. - CNN / May 2
Universities Employ Broad Range of Responses to Protests
Campus leaders, balancing their obligation to defend freedom of expression while safeguarding their community, feel “moral distress” over “increased politicization” of higher ed, AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella tells CNN. - The Chronical of Higher Education / May 2
AI Detection in a Business. But Should It Be Faculty Business?
In this op-ed, AAC&U Vice President Eddie Watson and Senior Scholar Jose Bowen—authors of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning— discuss the increasing use of AI detection tools in academia. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / May 2
Study: More Collaboration Needed Between Faculty and Career Centers to Provide Workforce Preparation
The study looked at responses from 6,800 college faculty to gauge the extent to which faculty play a role in students’ career journeys. - The Forward / April 29
'No divestment, no commencement': Students fear protests will upend their college graduations
“There’s only so much you can control, even if you have policies that say we’re going to escort you out,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. - Inside Higher Ed / April 18
Experts Largely Impressed with Shafik's Performance
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, told Inside Higher Ed after the House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce Committee hearing on antisemitism that Columbia University President Minouche Shafik may have adopted too hard a stance against faculty speech as Republican committee members grilled her on whether Columbia continued to employ professors who had made controversial statements supporting Hamas. - Forbes / April 5
Teaching with AI - What You Need to Know
AAC&U Vice President Eddie Watson and Senior Scholar Jose Bowen are interviewed for this article that discusses the integration of AI in education, emphasizing the need for educators to approach AI with curiosity and caution. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / April 5
Investing in Community Colleges
“[Gifts made to community colleges] have been truly transformative,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges & Universities. “Community colleges traditionally haven’t had large endowments. They don’t have graduates who have immediate wealth who can give back in the way that a place like Harvard or Yale might.” - Inside Higher Ed / April 3
Pluralism Conference Draws Campus Leaders Amid Israel-Gaza War
Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U, said in her opening remarks that the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel “sent shockwaves around the world” and thrust campuses into the international spotlight amid the student protests that followed. - The Chronicle of Higher Education / March 21
Race to the Finish
“College should prepare students for success in work, citizenship, and life,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. “I worry about the latter two when we abandon electives grounded in the liberal arts and sciences.” - The Washington Post / March 18
AAC&U Vice Chair Jonathan Alger Named President of American University
Alger serves as vice chair of the AAC&U board of directors. AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said that Alger “leads with compassion, transparency, integrity, authenticity, moral courage, and humor.” - University Business / March 11
Performance-Based Funding: The New Normal, or a Schtick?
"It's no surprise that places like Penn State would be in support of [these models] because highly selective research institutions are the primary beneficiaries," AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella says. "They are not the ones that need the most help with performance." - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / March 4
Outrage Continues Over University of Florida's Removal of DEI Roles
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said restrictions on DEI greatly impede the ability of colleges and universities to advance their missions. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / February 23
Report: Growing Number of College Grads Earn Less Than the Typical H.S. Grad
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella noted that other research has shown that a college is “still the most reliable pathway to the middle class. - Inside Higher Ed / February 22
More Than Half of Recent 4-Year College Grads Underemployed
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella said that deeper goal is graduates “finding meaningful work, especially at a time when there are skyrocketing mental health issues among college students and graduates.” - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / February 5
Higher Ed Officials Express Uncertainty Amid Further FASFA Delays
“If deadlines for decisions are not changed, students and parents may feel coerced into making decisions in the absence of complete and adequate information,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Forward / January 29
No More Hostage Posters: Colleges Rewrite Rules on Speech Because of Israel-Hamas War
“If free speech impedes another individual’s ability to learn, it’s a violation of that right to equal access,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The World / January 28
Professors Fear Creeping Authoritarianism in Academia Amid Harvard Fallout
“We need to get beyond . . . the expectation that presidents are going to be thought leaders who publish in scholarly journals but don’t do much else,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Boston Globe / January 10
The Impossible Role of University Presidents: 'Who would take this job in this day and age?'
“People are reluctant to take on leadership roles when they recognize they will be attacked . . . because they are seen as part of a system that is un-American,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education / January 4
Higher Ed Voices Outrage After Harvard President Resigns
“I think this is a sign of governmental overreach into the autonomy of higher education,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella. - The Boston Globe / January 3
Universities Nationwide Under Fire from Right-Wing Leaders Seeking 'a more traditional American society'
"It’s a sad day for higher education when the pursuit of knowledge and truth is overshadowed by political agendas," said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella.
- The Hill / December 23