Press Room

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.

AAC&U champions a contemporary vision of liberal education and sponsors a campaign called Liberal Education and America's Promise to expand public and student understanding of what really matters in college—the kinds of learning that will truly empower students to succeed and make a difference in the 21st century.

Recent Press Releases

Higher Education Learning Outcomes Assessment Movement Moves Away from Standardized Tests, According to New National Survey

February 17, 2016

AAC&U released today the third report from a national survey of Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) conducted by Hart Research Associates.  This new report, “Trends in Learning Outcomes Assessment,” highlights findings from the 2015 survey of a representative sample of chief academic officers at AAC&U member institutions including respondents from across the full spectrum of public, private, two-year, and four-year institutions.Read more

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

February 11, 2016

Washington, DC—At its recent Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) named seven new directors and elected a slate of new officers. Dr. James P. Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and Environment at Arizona State University, became Chair of the Board, taking over from Dr. Edward J. Ray, President of Oregon State University. Ray will continue to serve on AAC&U’s Board Executive Committee as Past Chair. In addition to the appointment of James P. Collins, AAC&U members voted to appoint Elsa Núñez,...Read more

National Survey of College Leaders Reveals Clear Consensus on Learning Outcomes, Greater Emphasis in General Education on Integration, Applied, and Project-Based Learning

January 19, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities released today the second of three planned reports highlighting findings from a national survey of Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) conducted by Hart Research Associates.  This new report, “Recent Trends in General Education Design, Learning Outcomes, and Teaching Approaches,” highlights findings from the survey of a representative sample of chief academic officers at AAC&U member...Read more

AAC&U Presents 2016 Frederic W. Ness Book Award to Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters by Michael S. Roth

January 21, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the winner of its Frederic W. Ness Book Award: Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters published in 2014 by Yale University Press. The Ness award is given for the book that best illuminates the goals and practices of a contemporary liberal education, and will be formally presented to the author, Michael S. Roth, at AAC&U’s Annual Meeting, on January 21, 2016, in Washington, DC. Michael S. Roth is president of...Read more

Ten Graduate Students Honored with K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award

January 14, 2016

Washington, DC—January 14, 2016—The Association of American Colleges and Universities announced today the 2016 recipients of the annual K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. This award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education; who demonstrate a commitment to developing academic and civic responsibility in themselves and in others; and whose work reflects a strong emphasis on teaching and learning. The award is named in honor of K. Patricia Cross, professor of higher education, emerita, at...Read more

Humphreys, McNair, Albertine, and Rhodes to Take on New Roles and Responsibilities at the Association of American Colleges and Universities

January 12, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) today announced new assignments for four key senior staff members.

As of January 1, 2016, Debra Humphreys has assumed a new position as Senior Vice President for Academic Planning and Public Engagement.  As of February 1, Tia Brown McNair will succeed Susan Albertine as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Student Success. Susan Albertine will begin a phased retirement transition into a new role as a part-time Senior Scholar overseeing the LEAP States initiative and AAC&U’s Faculty...Read more

2,000 Expected in DC to Explore How to Bring Together Goals for Equity, Inclusive Excellence, and High-Quality Learning

January 6, 2016

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) will hold its Annual Meeting in Washington from January 20–23, 2016. AAC&U's 2016 Annual Meeting, “How Higher Education Can Lead—On Equity, Inclusive Excellence, and Democratic Renewal,” explores directly the question "Land of Opportunity–But for Whom?" Attendees will explore what educators can do, together with our students, to reverse this nation's deepening divides and ensure that all college students gain the benefits of a public-spirited, engaged liberal education.Read more

Lynn Pasquerella Named 14th President of Association of American Colleges and Universities

January 4, 2016

The Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has chosen Dr. Lynn Pasquerella to become AAC&U’s 14th president. She will assume her new duties on July 1, 2016. Read more

AAC&U and The Democracy Commitment Join with Seven Community Colleges To Launch New Project on "Citizenship Under Siege"

December 17, 2015

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and The Democracy Commitment (TDC) announced today the receipt of a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to sponsor public forums on “Citizenship Under Siege” in partnership with seven community colleges. This project builds on a previous NEH-funded project, Bridging Cultures to Form a Nation: Difference, Community, and Democratic Thinking. That three-year curriculum and faculty development project engaged the same community colleges that will now participate in “Citizenship Under Siege.”Read more

Accreditation Proposals Put Quality College Learning at Risk, Says AAC&U President in Strong Message to the Accrediting Community

December 2, 2015

Carol Geary Schneider, president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), sent a strong message today to the accrediting community and to policy and higher education leaders urging more forceful and concerted action to ensure and report students’ achievement of the full set of the learning outcomes most important for success and flourishing in life, work, and citizenship. Read more

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About AAC&U

AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. It's members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises nearly 1,400 member institutions — including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.

AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. It's mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help institutions to keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.