There are many higher education associations, organizations, and alliances in the United States of America. These groups are relevant to the structure of higher education in the United States. One way the associations distinguish themselves is if their members are presidents of institutions or not.
Presidential Associations (informally known as The Six)
American Council on Education (ACE)
Established in 1918, the American Council on Education (ACE) is a United States organization comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations.
ACE is being known as the "umbrella" higher education association in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C. at the National Center for Higher Education, ACE convenes the "Group of The Six" which brings together the six most important presidentially based higher education associations in the United States, in order to foster collaboration, to monitor and influence federal policy and to collaborate on issues of common interest.
The associations belonging to the "Group of The Six" are: ACE, AACC, APLU, AASCU, AAU and NAICU.
Activities
The organization conducts public policy advocacy, research, and other initiatives related to key higher education issues, and plays a significant role in higher education leadership development.
It has different programs, including "International Initiatives", "Diversity", "Public Policy" "ACE Fellow Programs" among others.
Leadership
President: Ted Mitchell
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
Founded in 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), headquartered in the National Center for Higher Education in Washington, D.C., is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges at the national level and works closely with directors of state offices to inform and affect state policy.
AACC is member of "The Group of The Six"
The association has ongoing interaction with key federal departments and agencies including the U.S. departments of Labor, Education, Energy, Homeland Security, and Commerce and the National Science Foundation.
AACC represents almost 1,200 community colleges from the U.S. in which there are enrolled more than 11 million students.
Leadership
President: Walter G. Bumphus, Ph.D.
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
Founded in 1951, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is an organization of state-supported colleges and universities that offer degree programs leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. AASCU grew out of the Association of Teacher Education Institutions that had been organized in 1951 to serve public comprehensive institutions most of them having begun as single purpose institutions, most of them normal schools.
Members of AASCU work to extend higher education to all citizens, including those who have been traditionally underrepresented on college campuses. By Delivering America’s Promise, these institutions fulfill the expectations of a public university by working for the public good through education and engagement, thereby improving the lives of people in their community, their region and their state. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities represents more than 400 public colleges, universities and systems of higher education throughout the United States and its territories.
Leadership
President: Dr. Mildred García
Association of American Universities (AAU)
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities (AAU) is an organization of 62 leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education. It consists of sixty universities in the United States (both public and private) and two universities in Canada.
The primary purpose of the AAU is to provide a forum for the development and implementation of institutional and national policies, in order to promote strong programs in academic research and scholarship and undergraduate, graduate, and professional education. AAU is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Leadership
President: Barbara R. Snyder
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
Founded in 1886, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is a non-profit association of 218 public research universities, land-grant institutions, and state university systems with member campuses in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.