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 President Issues Call to Action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Wake of Court Decision on Race-Based Admissions

June 23, 2016

Washington DC—In a strongly worded statement released today in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider underscored AAC&U’s continuing commitment to “support[ing] higher education institutions across all sectors in creating learning experiences through which all students engage productively with the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize our world.”

Given its mission-level commitment to both liberal...Read more

AAC&U to Form and Lead New Commission on Inclusive Excellence in STEM in Partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute

May 25, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced today the formation of a new Inclusive Excellence (IE) Commission chaired by AAC&U Vice President and Project Kaleidoscope Executive Director Kelly Mack.  The Commission is being formed as part of HHMI’s new Inclusive Excellence Initiative.

The Commission will include nationally and internationally recognized experts on undergraduate STEM reform, broadening participation, leadership development, educational equity, and organizational change. ...Read more

AAC&U Announces Appointment of Dr. Amy E. Jessen-Marshall as Vice President for Integrative Liberal Learning and the Global Commons

May 11, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the appointment of Dr. Amy E. Jessen-Marshall as the new Vice President for Integrative Liberal Learning and the Global Commons.  Dr. Jessen-Marshall has been an active AAC&U member and leader during her tenures at Sweet Briar College and Otterbein University.

Dr. Jessen-Marshall currently serves as an AAC&U leader for the General Education Maps and Markers (GEMs) Pathways Project. As part of this work, she is conducting site visits to several of...Read more

119 Institutions Selected to Send Teams to AAC&U Summer Institutes

May 3, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the colleges, community colleges, universities, and state systems sending teams to its three regularly scheduled 2016 team-based summer institutes. Teams of five or more from each institution will attend these summer institutes: The Institute on General Education and Assessment at Boston University (June 4–8, 2016); The Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success at the University of...Read more

AAC&U Partners with National STEM Leadership Conference

April 6, 2016

Washington, DC—The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) is proud to announce its affiliation with U.S. News & World Report’s fifth annual U.S. News STEM Solutions conference, taking place in Baltimore, May 18–20, 2016.  

About U.S. News STEM Solutions

The U.S. News STEM Solutions National Leadership Conference is focused on improving America's science, technology, engineering, and math skills. Produced by U.S. News & World Report, the conference highlights STEM issues on a national stage and...Read more

AAC&U Board of Directors Establishes "Lecture on Liberal Education and Inclusive Excellence" to Honor Carol Geary Schneider, AAC&U's 13th President

March 1, 2016

At its recent Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Board of Directors announced the establishment of a new “Carol Geary Schneider Lecture on Liberal Education and Inclusive Excellence” established to honor the legacy of President Carol Geary Schneider, who will retire on June 30, 2016.Read more

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 institutions including respondents from across the full spectrum of public, private...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

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