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Civic Education
The Forgotten Fundamentals
July 2, 2025
In April 2025, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic fundamentals of arts and sciences. We…
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Civic Education
The Forgotten Fundamentals
July 2, 2025
In April 2025, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic fundamentals of arts and sciences.
PROMOTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
ACTA Releases New Survey on American Students’ Knowledge of U.S. Arts and Sciences
July 2, 2025
Today, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) releases the second in a series of three annual surveys of American college students. This survey, The Forgotten Fundamentals: An Arts and Sciences Assessment of American College Students, was conducted by College Pulse between April 1, 2025, and April 21, 2025.
ACTA Releases New Survey on American Students’ Knowledge of U.S. Arts and Sciences
No U.S. History?
ACTA’s report, “No U.S. History? How College History Departments Leave the United States out of the Major,” found that 18 of the top 25 public universities did not have a wide-ranging American history requirement for students seeking a B.A. in history in the major or core curriculum.
Download PDFDEFENDING ACADEMIC FREEDOm
Supporting Heterodox Social Science with guest Eric Kaufmann
June 27, 2025
In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss Trump v. Harvard as well as . . . DEI for conservatives?
Supporting Heterodox Social Science with guest Eric KaufmannPodcastsIntellectual Diversity
The DEI Pipeline with guest John Sailer
May 27, 2025
In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the amazing work done by…
PodcastsCivil Discourse
Free Speech Soars at GMU Law School
May 20, 2025
Dubbed “Washington’s School for Civil Discourse,” George Mason University’s (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School exposes students to all legal and political…
ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression
ACTA now provides a blueprint to help higher education regain and live by this core principle. The ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™ provides clear guidance for institutions to create a culture of free thought on their campuses.
Download PDFENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY
From Major to Market
July 1, 2025
Introduction It has been a difficult season for higher education in America, with high-profile scandals, violent protests, and budget shortfalls within the last year affecting institutions across the country. Increasing numbers of Americans are reporting little or no confidence in higher education. Effective and serious leadership has never been needed more, and the role of […]
From Major to MarketACTA in the NewsFederal Funding
Colleges Face Major Tax Blow in Trump’s Proposed IRS Rules on Race
Bloomberg | June 18, 2025 by Elizabeth Rembert, Simone Foxman and Amanda Albright
The Trump administration is privately considering unleashing what advocates and critics agree would be one of its biggest cudgels…
The ForumAccreditation
ACTA Publica: Columbia’s Accreditation At Risk?
June 12, 2025 by Kyle Beltramini
A recent press release by the U.S. Department of Education has created a bit of confusion, leading many to…
Governance for a New Era
Governance for a New Era is a blueprint for higher education governance. Signatories to the statement, a diverse group of 22 distinguished national leaders dedicated to ensuring America’s colleges and universities shed 20th century thinking and successfully meet 21st century challenges.
Download PDFIN THE
NEWS
Press ReleasesCivic Education
ACTA Releases New Survey on American Students’ Knowledge of U.S. Arts and Sciences
July 2, 2025
Today, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) releases the second in a series of three annual surveys of American college students. This survey, The Forgotten Fundamentals: An Arts and Sciences Assessment of American College Students, was conducted by College Pulse between April 1, 20…
ACTA in the NewsFederal Funding
Colleges Face Major Tax Blow in Trump’s Proposed IRS Rules on Race
Bloomberg | June 18, 2025 by Elizabeth Rembert, Simone Foxman and Amanda Albright
The Trump administration is privately considering unleashing what advocates and critics agree would be one of its biggest cudgels yet to pressure colleges to end slews of programs and practices benefiting students who are racial minorities.
ACTA in the News
Moral Failure and Government Intrusion at Harvard
Law & Liberty | June 11, 2025 by Michael B. Poliakoff
To understand the crisis in American higher education, it is necessary to hold two thoughts at once. American higher education remains the envy of the world, with seven of its universities in the top 10 of Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings. Yet the behavior on many campuses has c…
ACTA in the NewsAccreditation
Trump has called the higher ed accreditation system his ‘secret weapon.’ Here’s what to know about Harvard’s.
Boston Globe | June 5, 2025 by Hiawatha Bray and Maren Halpin
In a campaign video during his most recent run for the presidency, President Trump called the college accreditation system his “secret weapon” in his plan to reshape higher education.
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370
institutions have been counseled by ACTA on matters of cost effectiveness, financial governance, and institutional spending. See ACTA’s one-of-a-kind higher education financial analysis tool: HowCollegesSpendMoney.com.
146
institutions and systems representing nearly four million students, encouraged by ACTA, reaffirmed their commitment to free speech on campus by adopting the Chicago Principles on Freedom of Expression or a policy of institutional neutrality.
256
institutions have improved their core curriculum requirements based on ACTA’s annual What Will They Learn?® initiative. Visit WhatWillTheyLearn.com
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students from 100+ Institutions have engaged in 400+ civil discourse debates, dialogues, and workshops through ACTA’s college debates program partnership with Braver Angels and Bridge USA.
1,452
news outlets in 2024 covered ACTA’s nationwide impact on academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education.
275
million dollars in gifts to higher education have been guided through ACTA’s Fund for Academic Renewal. Visit AcademicRenewal.org.
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