Mission and History
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonpartisan, nonprofit, educational organization committed to academic freedom, excellence and accountability at America's colleges and universities.
Founded in 1995, and formerly known as the National Alumni Forum, ACTA is the only national organization that is dedicated to working systematically with alumni, donors, trustees and education leaders across the country to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a philosophically-balanced, open-minded, high-quality education at an affordable price.
ACTA was launched by former National Endowment for the Humanities chairman Lynne V. Cheney, former Governor Richard D. Lamm of Colorado, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, distinguished social scientist David Riesman, Nobel Laureate Saul Bellow and others.
ACTA works with college and university trustees to ensure responsible management of higher education resources, end grade inflation, establish a solid core curriculum, and restore intellectual diversity on campus.
ACTA has supporters from over 700 colleges and universities. Its quarterly publication, Inside Academe, goes to over 12,000 readers, including 3,500+ college and university trustees.
Jerry L. Martin is Chairman of ACTA. He was ACTA's Founding President, serving from 1995 to 2003. From 1988 to 1995, he held senior positions at the National Endowment for the Humanities, including Acting Chairman in 1993. Prior to joining NEH, Dr. Martin was the Chairman of the philosophy department at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he also served as Director of the University's Center for the Study of Values and Social Policy. From 1977 to 1979, he served as President of the Colorado Conference of the American Association of University Professors. Dr. Martin received his B.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside, an M.A. in philosophy and political science from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University. He is the author of numerous articles on philosopy, education, and public policy in both scholarly journals and the popular press.