Public Policy Agenda, 2026
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| Title: | Public Policy Agenda, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) |
| Source: | American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 2026. |
| Availability: | American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 1717 Rhode Island Avenue NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-293-7070; Fax: 202-296-5819; Web site: https://aascu.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 24 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Public Colleges, Public Policy, Educational Policy, Access to Education, Paying for College, College Environment, Veterans Education, Inclusion, School Safety, Freedom of Speech, Citizen Participation, Foster Care, Institutional Autonomy, Accreditation (Institutions), Competition, Educational Innovation |
| Abstract: | America's regional public universities (RPUs) serve a unique role as the portal through which many students and a significant portion of the nation's future workforce gain the necessary skills needed to face the economic challenges of the 21st century. Programs at RPUs offer more than 4.9 million students, who are increasingly from underrepresented backgrounds, low income, and/or first generation, the opportunity to achieve America's promise of an affordable, high-quality college education. Across the country, regional public four-year institutions serve as indispensable venues for access and civic engagement. In addition, as institutions created by and accountable to their states, they serve as catalysts for economic growth, workforce readiness, and social mobility within their communities, as well as engines of global competitiveness for the nation. Considering the challenges RPUs face, including shrinking budgets, increased demand for affordable postsecondary education, enrollment volatility, and onerous regulations, we must create opportunities for all students who would otherwise have few real options for realizing the American Dream--one of socioeconomic mobility and the pursuit of happiness. In support of the critical role its members play in the development of their respective communities and the broader United States, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) updates and publishes this "Public Policy Agenda" ("PPA") annually. The "PPA" is intended to serve two substantive goals before multiple audiences. The first purpose of the "PPA" is to outline the affirmative policy preferences of the AASCU membership--the policies that are viewed as most beneficial to students at RPUs and to the nation--as articulated by the association's policy development body, the Council of State Representatives (CSR). AASCU's affirmative policy agenda defines the work of its government relations division before Congress and the administration. The second function of the PPA is to provide a framework to guide the association in responding to unanticipated policy and political developments. The fundamental principles articulated in this document regarding AASCU membership's policy priorities help the association securely navigate its way through day-to-day political developments and allow it to react quickly to policy proposals from various quarters. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Access URL: | https://aascu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-PPA.pdf |
| Accession Number: | ED679445 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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