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The Story of Our Nation: How Well Do College Students Know America?
June 23, 2026
In the spring of 2026, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic knowledge of American history…
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Latest
A Broadside for the Nation
April 21, 2026
In this Broadside for the Nation, we explain in detail why American higher education must restore this foundational requirement for college graduates to know the American story, what such a course might include, and, crucially, how to make this vision a reality.
Civic Education
The Story of Our Nation: How Well Do College Students Know America?
In the spring of 2026, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic knowledge of American history and government. Our data shows that far too many students are earning college degrees without a rudimentary knowledge of the nation’s history and civic structure.
PROMOTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
ACTA Releases New Campus Survey Exposing America’s Worsening Crisis in Civic Illiteracy
June 23, 2026
The cost of an ignorant, apathetic generation is before us: the American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s (ACTA) recent survey shows that 57% of college students say they would flee the United States if it were invaded by Russia. Today, ACTA released The Story of Our Nation: How Well Do College Students Know America?, a nationwide survey polling 3,009 undergraduate students on their grasp of basic facts about American history and government. This is the third of three such surveys that ACTA has conducted since 2024.
ACTA Releases New Campus Survey Exposing America’s Worsening Crisis in Civic Illiteracy
A Broadside for the Nation
ACTA’s A Broadside for the Nation: Preparing College Students for Informed Citizenship convenes 24 historians and education leaders who argue that America’s 250th anniversary demands a renewal of civic education. The report urges colleges to require every student to complete a semester-long course on the American story.
Download PDFDEFENDING ACADEMIC FREEDOm
University of Idaho Report Card
June 23, 2026
ACTA’s Campus Freedom Initiative™ (CFI) has evaluated universities in several states against our Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™, a 20-point action plan for reestablishing higher education’s commitment to excellence and open inquiry. Below we present the University of Idaho Gold Standard evaluation. University of Idaho receives credit for nine out of twenty Gold Standard measures. Our research highlights University of Idaho strengths in protecting free expression and identifies areas it must work on to improve the student experience. Explore the full University of Idaho Gold Standard evaluation to learn more.
University of Idaho Report CardUniversity of Delaware Report Card
June 23, 2026
ACTA’s Campus Freedom Initiative™ (CFI) has evaluated universities in several states against our Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™,…
Yale Needs More Free Speech! with guest Lauren Noble
June 16, 2026
In this episode of Radio Free Campus, podcast co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison talk with Lauren Noble, founder…
ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression
ACTA now provides a blueprint to help higher education regain and live by this core principle. The ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™ provides clear guidance for institutions to create a culture of free thought on their campuses.
Download PDFENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY
An Impromptu Q&A on the Future of Higher Education with Mitch Daniels
June 12, 2026
Mitch Daniels is an American statesman and higher education leader who served as governor of Indiana from 2005 to 2013 and as president of Purdue University from 2013 to 2022. Over a wide-ranging career as a political adviser, corporate executive, and public official, Daniels brought a focus on fiscal discipline and reform to Purdue. He […]
An Impromptu Q&A on the Future of Higher Education with Mitch DanielsHigher ed groups critical of Michigan State University’s ‘loyalty’ pledge for board members
The College Fix | June 10, 2026 by Daisy Roser
Trustees are supposed to ask questions, expert says A new mandated “loyalty” pledge for Michigan State University trustees undermines…
How the Trump Admin Could Speed Up a Controversial New Accreditor
The Assembly | May 28, 2026 by Dylan Halper
The Trump administration’s proposed revamp of college accreditation rules could speed up the UNC System’s effort to launch a…
Governance for a New Era
Governance for a New Era is a blueprint for higher education governance. Signatories to the statement, a diverse group of 22 distinguished national leaders dedicated to ensuring America’s colleges and universities shed 20th century thinking and successfully meet 21st century challenges.
Download PDFIN THE
NEWS
ACTA in the NewsCivic Education
Want better civic education? Improve college teaching.
The Hill | June 18, 2026 by Jonathan Zimmerman
Do you support civic education at our universities? Of course you do. I bet you like rainbows and puppies too. Everyone likes civic education, especially right now. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday — and as our democracy continues to sag — we’ve seen a slew of …
ACTA in the NewsGeneral Education
How GOP State Lawmakers Are Reshaping General Education
Inside Higher Ed | June 16, 2026 by Ryan Quinn
Thousands of college students in some states now have to read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence as well as pass American history and government courses to graduate. More changes are coming as red state lawmakers reshape general education requirements—what students must learn before…
HOW ACTA IS SUCCEEDING
370
institutions have been counseled by ACTA on matters of cost effectiveness, financial governance, and institutional spending. See ACTA’s one-of-a-kind higher education financial analysis tool: HowCollegesSpendMoney.com.
146
institutions and systems representing nearly four million students, encouraged by ACTA, reaffirmed their commitment to free speech on campus by adopting the Chicago Principles on Freedom of Expression or a policy of institutional neutrality.
256
institutions have improved their core curriculum requirements based on ACTA’s annual What Will They Learn?® initiative. Visit WhatWillTheyLearn.com
26,500+
students from 140 institutions have engaged in 660 civil discourse debates, dialogues, and workshops through ACTA’s college debates program partnership with Braver Angels and Bridge USA.
795
news outlets in 2025 covered ACTA’s nationwide impact on academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education.
275
million dollars in gifts to higher education have been guided through ACTA’s Fund for Academic Renewal. Visit AcademicRenewal.org.
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Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
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