Higher education has never been more “front and center”—almost daily we hear about spiraling costs, the lack of academic rigor, and the stifling political correctness on our college campuses. Long before such issues were hot, ACTA was already pointing out these worrisome trends and calling on policymakers and leaders in higher education to pursue reform. Twenty years later, ACTA is now leading the charge—taking bold strides to make higher education reform a reality. And as the media draws more and more attention to this long-brewing crisis, our audience is growing—as never before.
In 2015, ACTA celebrated 20 years of hard-charging higher education reform. And what a story we have to tell. Once a lone voice in the wilderness, ACTA is now leading the charge in our vigorous campaign to restore academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability to American higher education. Core curricula, accreditation reform, historical literacy, engaged […]
ACTA is turning the tide and calling colleges and universities to account. We are making significant progress in our campaign to make higher education accountable, affordable, and effective. Our goal is for America to be again able to say our nation’s higher education is the envy of the world.
Whether it’s restoring a core curriculum, demanding affordability, or insisting on informed stewardship, ACTA is shaping the future of higher education by re-focusing the American academy on things that matter. This report outlines our accomplishments in 2012, and demonstrates that trustees, the media, and policymakers turn to ACTA due to our long-standing record of leadership.
Accrediting agencies should no longer serve as gatekeepers to federal financial aid, argues a new report by Hank Brown, a former president of the University of Colorado and Republican U.S. senator. The current accreditation system squelches innovation, interferes with colleges’ autonomy, and is riddled with conflicts of interest, Brown said in the report, which was […]
On August 19 the intrepid American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) released a timely report on the governance of colleges and universities. “Governance for a New Era: A Blueprint for Higher Education Trustees” was the work of a blue-chip 22-member committee chaired by Benno Schmidt, a former president of Yale. The 16-page report is available online, […]
Several education groups are pushing for a major reform in how the United States handles school accreditation, arguing the current system raises costs for both schools and students while allowing unaccountable officials undue influence. Accreditation is essential for a college’s degrees to have value. In most states professional certification in various fields requires an accredited […]
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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