IAU Brings Global Attention to AAC&U Statement Defending Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy

The IAU brings the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Public Statement on the Trump Administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to the attention of the broader higher education community.

In its statement, AAC&U and higher education leaders across the United States reaffirm the essential principles of academic freedom, institutional self-governance, and constructive engagement between government and higher education. The statement warns against political interference and coercive policies that seek to align universities with ideologically driven agendas at the expense of these core values.

The IAU stresses the importance of this collective call by sharing it globally; the IAU underscores its global commitment to protecting the autonomy of higher education institutions as a cornerstone of quality, innovation, and democracy worldwide. The Association stands in solidarity with universities and academic leaders around the world who defend the right to pursue knowledge freely and govern their institutions independently, in service of the public good.

Read the full AAC&U statement here.