Liberal Education and America's Promise

Public Opinion Research

AAC&U commissions and analyzes research studies that explore public attitudes toward liberal education and key outcomes of college in the 21st century.

National Polls & Focus Groups With Employers

"How Should Colleges Assess And Improve Student Learning? Employers' Views on the Accountability Challenge" (January 2008)

• Full 2008 report
• powerpoint presentation on 2008 results.

“How Should Colleges Prepare Students To Succeed in Today’s Global Economy?" (January 2007)

• Chart of what business leaders want colleges to "place more emphasis" on (from 2007 survey results)
• Full 2007 report (pdf)
• powerpoint presentation on 2007 findings

Findings from Focus Groups with Private Employers

• Milwaukee/Alexandria/Atlanta—January, 2006 (pdf)

Findings from Focus Groups with Students

• Findings from Focus Groups with Current College Students and Rising High School Seniors (Indianapolis/Portland/Alexandria—Summer 2004) (pdf)
• Findings from Focus Groups with Current College Students and High School Seniors (Milwaukee, Wisconsin—March, 2005) (pdf)
• AAC&U's Focus Group Discussion Guide and Handouts prepared for use on campuses (pdf)

Other Public Opinion Research

• National Survey of AAC&U Members (2009)
• Squeeze Play 2009: The Public's Views on College Costs Today
• Survey of High-School Students Finds They Are Spending More Time on Homework (Chronicle of Higher Education, subscription needed)
• Article about a report exploring Generation Y's views on work-life balance and other job attributes, from the National Association of Colleges and Employers
• Summary of Prior Research on Liberal Education Outcomes (pdf)
• Study of Young People’s Attitudes About Life After High School and Their Preparation for and Pathways to College
• Study on Americans’ Views of Political Bias in the Academy and Academic Freedom
• Poll done by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills about preparing young people with the skills they need to compete in the global economy