Association of American Colleges and Universities

Association of American Colleges and Universities is a national organization that focuses on improving the quality of undergraduate education, particularly in the areas of liberal arts, general education, and diversity and inclusion. The organization was founded in 1915 by a group of educators, including John Dewey, Charles Eliot, and Abraham Flexner, who were committed to promoting excellence in undergraduate education at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Chicago, and Columbia University. The organization's early work was influenced by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. Today, the organization works with institutions such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of California, Berkeley to promote innovative and effective educational practices.

● History

The organization has a long history of promoting excellence in undergraduate education, dating back to its founding in 1915. During the early years, the organization focused on issues such as academic freedom, faculty development, and curriculum design, with support from organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. In the 1960s and 1970s, the organization played a key role in promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education, working with institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities. The organization has also worked closely with other higher education organizations, including the American Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and American Council on Education, to promote excellence in undergraduate education at institutions like University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The organization's history has been shaped by the work of prominent educators, including Robert Maynard Hutchins, Clark Kerr, and Derek Bok, who have served as presidents of institutions like University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University.

● Mission and Goals

The organization's mission is to promote excellence in undergraduate education, with a focus on issues such as liberal arts, general education, and diversity and inclusion. The organization's goals include promoting innovative and effective educational practices, supporting faculty development and scholarship of teaching and learning, and advocating for policies that support undergraduate education at institutions like Yale University, Princeton University, and California Institute of Technology. The organization also seeks to promote collaboration and dialogue among educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders, including organizations like the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Lumina Foundation. The organization's work is guided by a commitment to the values of academic excellence, diversity and inclusion, and social responsibility, as reflected in the work of institutions like University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University.

● Membership and Governance

The organization has a diverse membership of over 1,400 institutions, including public universities, private colleges, and community colleges, such as University of California, Los Angeles, New York University, and Miami Dade College. The organization is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Washington, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The organization also has a number of committees and task forces, which focus on issues such as curriculum design, faculty development, and diversity and inclusion, with input from organizations like the American Association of Community Colleges, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The organization's governance structure is designed to promote collaboration and dialogue among its members, including institutions like University of Southern California, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

● Programs and Initiatives

The organization offers a range of programs and initiatives, including conferences, workshops, and institutes, which focus on issues such as liberal arts, general education, and diversity and inclusion. The organization's programs are designed to support faculty development, scholarship of teaching and learning, and curriculum design, with support from organizations like the Teagle Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The organization also offers a range of resources and publications, including books, journals, and online resources, which provide guidance and support for educators at institutions like University of Florida, Ohio State University, and University of Minnesota. The organization's programs and initiatives are designed to promote innovative and effective educational practices, with input from institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, University of Virginia, and Brown University.

● Publications and Resources

The organization publishes a range of resources, including books, journals, and online resources, which provide guidance and support for educators at institutions like University of Oregon, University of Iowa, and Indiana University Bloomington. The organization's publications include Liberal Education, a quarterly journal that focuses on issues related to liberal arts and general education, as well as Diversity and Democracy, a journal that explores issues related to diversity and inclusion. The organization also offers a range of online resources, including webinars, podcasts, and blogs, which provide guidance and support for educators at institutions like University of Georgia, University of Kansas, and Purdue University. The organization's publications and resources are designed to promote innovative and effective educational practices, with support from organizations like the National Center for Education Statistics, National Institute of Mental Health, and Institute of Education Sciences.

● Advocacy and Policy

The organization is a strong advocate for policies that support undergraduate education, including issues such as funding for higher education, access and affordability, and accountability and assessment. The organization works closely with policymakers and other stakeholders, including organizations like the American Council on Education, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and College Board, to promote policies that support undergraduate education at institutions like University of Arizona, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of Utah. The organization also provides guidance and support for educators and institutions, including resources and publications on issues such as curriculum design, faculty development, and diversity and inclusion, with input from institutions like University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University. The organization's advocacy and policy work is guided by a commitment to the values of academic excellence, diversity and inclusion, and social responsibility, as reflected in the work of institutions like University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University.