Higher education leaders today announced a group of colleges and universities committed to taking action to help students achieve their full potential before and after graduation.
The National Student Success Project addresses practical concerns from students and families about the value of a college degree by spelling out five core commitments that represent an action agenda for American higher education:
- Deliver a strong value for the investment students make in education.
- Empower students with clear and affordable pathways to a degree or other significant credential.
- Advance academic excellence with innovative programs and strong teaching.
- Ignite career ambitions through real-world experiences and robust guidance.
- Cultivate a community that supports all students and promotes civil dialogue and respect for others.
Colleges and universities that participate in the project are united in support of the commitments and can show detailed examples of how they are being carried out in practice.
The project’s central statement describes what each commitment means. For example, the statement says that delivering a strong value for the investment students make “means they finish their academic programs and flourish afterward, equipped with knowledge and skills that can lead to meaningful employment and a life of purpose.” The statement also emphasizes that each institution will fulfill its responsibility to help students succeed in its own way.
“These commitments reflect work already taking place at our colleges and universities,” the statement says. “Now is the time to accelerate our progress together. We will listen to students and other partners, assess outcomes, share effective practices, and strive always to improve. We aspire to build a movement to lift higher education to new heights, for the public good and for the students of today and tomorrow.”
Five higher education associations are helping launch the project: the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Strada Education Foundation supports the project.
The project was organized starting in early 2026, and its work has been guided by an advisory board of 19 presidents and chancellors representing a broad cross-section of higher education:
Audrey Bilger, president, Reed College; Bonita J. Brown, chancellor, Winston-Salem State University; Eli Capilouto, president, University of Kentucky; Pam Eddinger, president, Bunker Hill Community College; Stephanie J. Fujii, president, Arapahoe Community College; Kevin M. Guskiewicz, president, Michigan State University; Bennie L. Harris, chancellor, University of South Carolina Upstate; Tracy Hartzler, president, Central New Mexico Community College; John L. Hoffman, president, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College; Garry W. Jenkins, president, Bates College; Pradeep K. Khosla, chancellor, University of California San Diego; Michael I. Kotlikoff, president, Cornell University; Anne M. Kress, president, Northern Virginia Community College; Linda A. Livingstone, president, Baylor University; Philomena V. Mantella, president, Grand Valley State University; Jeanette M. Nuñez, president, Florida International University; Javier A. Reyes, chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst; William Serrata, president, El Paso Community College; and David K. Wilson, president, Morgan State University.
More than 50 colleges and universities joined as initial participants in today’s launch of the National Student Success Project. Many of their leaders came to support the project at an event today in downtown Washington.
Examples of specific programs and initiatives that show how colleges and universities are putting the five core commitments into practice are displayed on the project’s website. These examples, which will continue to be compiled in coming weeks, vary widely depending on the size and mission of each institution. As more colleges and universities join, the examples will form a comprehensive and informative catalog of innovative and effective practices that boost student success and lead to positive outcomes.
The higher education association presidents—AASCU’s Charles L. Welch, ACE’s Ted Mitchell, AACC’s DeRionne Pollard, APLU’s Waded Cruzado, and AAU’s Barbara Snyder—applauded the initiative in a joint statement.
“Across America, colleges and universities of all kinds are finding unique ways to achieve a common goal: ensuring their students receive an outstanding education and are prepared to succeed throughout their lives,” the five leaders said in the statement. “It’s important for all Americans, including students, parents, policymakers, and the general public, to understand the depth of our commitment to student success and to communicate the lifelong value of gaining a postsecondary education.”