Newsroom

AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. AAC&U is an excellent source of information on undergraduate curricular change, how colleges are changing to meet the needs of the new global economy, general education reform, student learning outcomes assessment, diversity and equity in higher education, and global issues in higher education.

Recent Press Releases

AAC&U Announces 2019 Frederic W. Ness Book Award for The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux

October 2, 2018

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announces the winner of its Frederic W. Ness Book Award, The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux, published by Basic Books. The Ness Award recognizes the book that best contributes to the understanding and improvement of liberal education. The Ness award will be formally presented to the author, Cathy N. Davidson, at AAC&U’s Annual Meeting on January 24, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.Read more

Employers Express Confidence in Colleges and Universities, Endorse Applied and Project-Based Learning as the Best Preparation for Career Opportunity and Long-Term Success

August 28, 2018

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released today a report by Hart Research Associates, “Fulfilling the American Dream: Liberal Education and the Future of Work.” The report summarizes selected findings from two parallel national surveys—one of business executives and one of hiring managers. On August 28, AAC&U will deliver a webinar describing the report results and their implications for higher education. Consistent...Read more

AAC&U Announces Appointment of Ashley Finley as Senior Advisor to the President and Secretary to the Board

July 31, 2018

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the appointment of Ashley Finley as the Senior Advisor to the President and Secretary to the Board. Ashley has been an active AAC&U member and leader during her tenure at Dominican University of California.

Ashley currently serves as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Dominican Experience at Dominican University of California. She is also the national evaluator for Bringing Theory to Practice (BTtoP), a national project dedicated to understanding the intersection of...Read more

AAC&U Announces Appointment of Andrew Flagel as Vice President for Advancement and Member Engagement

June 29, 2018

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced the appointment of Andrew Flagel as Vice President for Advancement and Member Engagement, effective July 1. In this role, he will help promote the mission of AAC&U by leading strategic advancement and membership growth and development.

For more than twenty-five years, Andrew Flagel has served to advance the cause of higher education, inclusion, and access across a range of public and private US institutions. Recently named a Senior Fellow for the National Research Center for College and...Read more

AAC&U Awards Twenty-Four Grants to Spur Civic Learning in Student Majors

May 21, 2018

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the twenty-four departments from institutions across the country that received mini-grants to advance civic learning and social responsibility as expected dimensions within students’ majors. AAC&U received 134 mini-grant applications, indicating widespread interest in rethinking departmental disciplinary designs for learning, life, work, and citizenship.

“Educating for democracy is more critical than ever, and AAC&U is proud to support the departments and institutions receiving...Read more

Nearly 200 Institutions Selected to Send Participants to AAC&U Summer Institutes

May 22, 2018

AAC&U announced today the two- and four-year colleges, universities, and state systems sending participants to its four regularly scheduled 2018 summer institutes. Teams of five or more will attend the Institute on General Education and Assessment at the University of Utah (June 5–8, 2018); the Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success at the University of Utah (June 19–22, 2018); and the Institute on Integrative Learning and Signature Work at Boston University (July 17–20, 2018). Individual faculty members will attend the Project Kaleidoscope STEM Leadership Institute at the Claggett Center in Adamstown, Maryland (July 10–15 and July 17–22, 2018). 

 Read more

AAC&U and Interfaith Youth Core Partner to Foster Interfaith Leadership and Cooperation in Higher Education

April 30, 2018

Transformational Grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations Will Support a 3-year Initiative to Increase Curricular and Cocurricular Student Experiences at Colleges and UniversitiesRead more

New Opportunity for Higher Education Administrators, Faculty, and Staff to Engage Issues of Religious Diversity

February 21, 2018

From July 17-20, 2018, Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) will hold the inaugural Institute on Teaching and Learning for Campus-wide Interfaith Excellence at Boston University. Read more

Association of American Colleges and Universities Announces Eight New Directors and a New Slate of Officers for Board of Directors

February 14, 2018

Washington, DC—At its recent Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) elected eight new directors and selected a slate of new officers to serve on its board of directors. Richard Guarasci, President of Wagner College, became chair of the board, taking over for Elsa Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University. Núñez will continue to serve on AAC&U’s board executive committee as past chair. The members also voted to appoint Carol Leary, President of Bay Path University, as...Read more

AAC&U Announces Five-Year Strategic Plan to Reclaim Higher Education's Civic Mission of Educating for Democracy

January 25, 2018

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released today its 2018–22 strategic plan outlining goals and aspirations that will guide the association’s work over the next five years. The plan, We ASPIRE: Advancing Student Performance through Integration, Research, and Excellence, was presented at AAC&U’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

We ASPIRE reclaims higher education’s civic mission of educating for democracy and reaffirms a commitment to demonstrating...Read more

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