For students and their families, choosing a college or university to attend is a pivotal decision.

In a Roper survey commissioned by ACTA, seven out of ten Americans agreed that colleges and universities should require all students to take basic classes in core subjects such as writing, math, science, economics, U.S. history, and foreign language. And with the average person changing jobs as many as 11 times during his or her first decades of employment, it is now more important than ever that prospective students know which colleges offer a well-balanced liberal arts education. In the same poll, the public said institutions of higher learning are doing only a fair or poor job of preparing students for the job market.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

What Will They Learn?™ — A guide to what college rankings don’t tell you

The search for the right college can be overwhelming. There is one thing other rankings won't tell you: which universities are making sure their students learn what they need to know. This free resource, WhatWillTheyLearn.com, does tell you, focusing on seven key areas of knowledge. It's designed to help you decide whether the colleges you're considering prepare their graduates to succeed after graduation.

Strengthening Core Requirements

ACTA’s efforts to strengthen core curricula around the nation do not end with providing information to students, parents, higher education leadership, and policymakers. We also provide technical advice and support to institutions seeking to strengthen their core requirements. Through campus presentations and letters to governing boards, ACTA helps institutions understand how to make the changes that build a vibrant general education program.

Information on Campus Life

College students need a campus where the mind and character can grow. ACTA provides information and guidance for parents and students on this crucial aspect of college life. Through our brochure Substance Abuse on Campus, ACTA sounds the alarm about a threat to student safety and well-being that injures and kills thousands of college students each year. ACTA has also taken up the issue of residential life programs that invade the privacy of students on sensitive social and personal matters. In Trouble in the Dorms, ACTA describes a particularly intrusive program at the University of Delaware and others like it, informing college bound students and parents about what to ask as they consider their options for college.

Our Initiatives

Resources