Public leaders cannot blindly trust that America’s colleges and universities properly serve taxpayers and students in the absence of careful oversight. ACTA’s thoughtful analysis and understanding of best practices can help policymakers and higher education leaders be effective in their crucial roles.
Measure the Impact of Runaway Spending
Policymakers must make the efficient use of public resources a top priority so that students across the country have access to a quality college education at an affordable price. Students and taxpayers deserve to know whether the colleges and universities they finance provide an adequate return on investment.
In The Cost Of Excess, ACTA examined nine years of data from over 1,500 private and public four-year institutions across the country. We found that increases in administrative spending—continuing even through challenging economic times—drove tuition hikes while doing little to improve graduation rates. The report offers guidance to help lawmakers ensure that public funds benefit students first.
Promote Innovation by Reforming Quality Assurance
The college accreditation system is broken. Originally intended to ensure that federal funds flowed to quality educational programs, its antiquated processes discourage innovation while failing to protect students. A broad, bipartisan consensus agrees that legislative action is overdue. In Accreditation on the Edge, ACTA outlines how Congress can reform quality assurance for the 21st century.
American higher education has generally abandoned its obligation to prepare graduates who have the knowledge and understanding to take up meaningful roles in our free society. ACTA is working hard to change that. Only 18% of colleges nationwide require the study of U.S. history or government, while even history major programs have dropped U.S. history requirements.
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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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