Magazine
Trust Must Be Earned
Colleges and universities need to demonstrate their commitment to students, communities, and the public good
Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education
Resources
Resources
The Trust Agenda: A Framework for Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education
U.S. Public Trust in Higher Ed Rises From Recent Low by Lumina/Gallup
Public Trust and Government Trust Aren't the Same for HE by Jeremy C. Young and Kathryn A. E. Enke
Varying Degrees 2025: Americans Find Common Ground in Higher Education by New America/NORC
Report of the Yale Committee on Trust in Higher Education
Public Leaders' Guide to Engaged Trust by the Partnership for Public Service
Replenishing Trust by Spitfire Strategies
Public Trust Requires Both Reform and Defense by Jeremy C. Young and Kathryn Enke
The Essentials: Academic Freedom, Viewpoint Diversity, and the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education"
Universities in Times of Challenges to Democracy by Sjur Bergan
The Economic Impact of Higher Education in America by the American Council on Education
International Student Economic Value Tool by NAFSA
Colleges Contributing Value to Communities by Urban Institute
Business Leaders Affirm Universities are Critical to America’s Competitiveness by Leadership Now Project
New Narratives Reframe Why College Matters by Hattaway Communications
Habits of Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
We Have a Common Goal of a ‘More Perfect Union’ by Corbin Hoornbeek and Suzanne M. Rivera
Campus Conflict and Conversation Help Desk by AAC&U’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education and the Sustained Dialogue Institute
Truths About DEI on College Campuses: Evidence-Based Expert Responses to Politicized Misinformation from USC Race and Equity Center
Civic Thought: A Proposal for University-Level Civic Education by Benjamin Storey and Jenna Silber Storey
A New Narrative to Promote Democracy in the United States: A Findings and Recommendations Report by Metropolitan Group
Habits of Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Engaging Community: A Toolkit for Reciprocal Teaching and Learning Beyond the Campus by Nicholas V. Longo, Carmine Perrotti, and Matthew H. Roy
Building Local Economies of Scale by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Colleges Contributing Value to Communities by Urban Institute
Student-Centered Enrollment Management Principles by Strada Education Foundation
Narrative: A Powerful Lever for Social Change by Metropolitan Group
College: Proud Sponsor of America at its Best
Telling Our Story from AASCU
Promising Practices from AASCU
An Open Letter to the Presidents of American Colleges and Universities by The Steady State
Public Statement\
AAC&U Statement on the U.S. Secretary of Education's National Call to Action
AAC&U welcomes every opportunity to strengthen public confidence in higher education and to engage in constructive dialogue about how colleges and universities can best serve students, communities, and the nation.
Initiative
Help Desk for Educators
Are you facing new or difficult conflicts or conversations on campus? Get timely advice or help with troubleshooting from a team of experienced scholars and practitioners.