AAC&U Issues 5-Point Trust Plan for Colleges as 70% Say Higher Education Is Off Track
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 17
AAC&U Issues 5-Point Trust Plan for Colleges as 70% Say Higher Education Is Off Track
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 17
Summary
Tuesday’s AAC&U report urges campuses to restore trust through five steps, including acting as community anchors, cutting red tape, removing barriers to student success and defending peer institutions under political attack.
Seventy percent of Americans say higher education is going in the wrong direction, up from 56% in 2020, as colleges face pressure from the Trump administration and years of deepening public skepticism.
Lynn Pasquerella said the report grew out of leaders’ talks after federal attacks on universities, with the group planning to spend the next few years helping campuses implement the recommendations.
That push already overlaps with broader self-scrutiny across academia: Yale is reviewing admissions, costs and grading, while Vanderbilt and Washington University examined whether standards in the humanities have eroded.
Since last year, the Trump administration has cut some research funding, opened investigations and pressed ideological demands on campuses, prompting universities to pair defenses of academic freedom with public admissions that trust must be re-earned.
Are universities' self-reform efforts a genuine fix or just a survival tactic against mounting public pressure?
With public trust at a low, can colleges prove their high price tag is still worth the investment?
With federal research funding under threat, is America's status as a global innovation leader at risk?
The Trust Agenda 2026: How U.S. Colleges Can Reverse a Decade of Declining Public Confidence
Overview
On June 16, 2026, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released 'The Trust Agenda,' a new report responding to a recognized crisis in higher education. Institutions have long been seen as reacting defensively, lacking a clear, forward-looking strategy. This report provides a proactive and practical framework, aiming to empower campus leaders to improve their institutions and rebuild public trust. The erosion of trust in universities reflects a broader decline in faith in key institutions that support an informed citizenry and social mobility, making this a critical moment for higher education to take initiative.