Higher Education at 250

About the Meeting

In the wake of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, higher education faces a moment of reflection and renewed responsibility. As institutions interrogate current practices, they are also called to examine how those practices align with higher education’s enduring purposes and to reimagine student success for a rapidly changing and uncertain world.

At a time when public trust is fragile and truth itself is frequently contested, AAC&U affirms its commitment to supporting colleges and universities in preparing students to become informed citizens who can thoughtfully engage in a pluralistic democracy. We invite you to move from reflection to action by exploring how higher education can rebuild public confidence, equip students to navigate complexity and difference, and strengthen institutions’ service to the public good.

Call for Proposals

AAC&U invites proposals that demonstrate how institutions are recentering their work on students and student success while advancing the public purpose mission of higher education. We welcome practical and innovative approaches to strengthening institutions’ roles as anchor institutions, fostering learning environments grounded in humanistic inquiry and pedagogies of care, and thoughtfully incorporating emerging technologies, including AI, across teaching, learning, and institutional practice.

Proposals should offer actionable, evidence-based strategies that illustrate how higher education can meet this moment of renewed public purpose, align mission with practice, and prepare students to contribute meaningfully to a pluralistic, interconnected democratic society. Competitive proposals will share adaptable ideas and models that can be implemented across diverse institutional contexts.