American College President Study

About

ACE's American College President Study (ACPS) has long served the higher education community as the most comprehensive, in-depth, and frequently cited source of information about the college presidency and the higher education leadership pipeline. Conducted approximately every five years since 1986, ACPS captures important data on presidential demographics, search and selection processes, career trajectories, duties and responsibilities, and many other important topics. Through generous support from the TIAA Institute, ACE published the 2017 edition, along with an accompanying interactive data explorer that can be used to view historical ACPS data back to 2001.

Related Publications

Leading the Way to Parity: Preparation, Persistence, and the Role of Women Presidents

This brief offers recommendations to increase representation of women among college presidents, and argues that meaningful parity will only be achieved when women not only reach the presidency, but are set up to succeed and endure in the position.

Innovative Leadership: Insights from the American College President Study 2017

This brief shares examples of how innovative higher education leaders work collaboratively with campus stakeholders, build and strengthen networks, and turn their challenges into successes.

Voices from the Field: Women of Color Presidents in Higher Education

This brief shares four interviews with women of color who are serving as presidents or chancellors of colleges and universities.

Ready to Lead: Women in the Presidency

This infographic draws upon data from the American College President Study 2017 to highlight women presidents, and the leadership experience they bring to the college presidency.

Path to the Presidency: The Role of Formal Leadership Training

In the ACPS 2017, college presidents shared information on their means of preparation for the role. This infographic provides additional details on those who participated in formal leadership training prior to becoming a president.

Presidents of Minority Serving Institutions

This infographic draws upon data from the American College President Study 2017 to highlight presidents of Minority Serving Institutions, their work, and their views of the college presidency.

Globally Minded Presidents: International Experience of College Presidents

In the American College President Study 2017, college and university presidents shared information on their international experience. This infographic provides additional details on how college presidents are driving internationalization efforts on cam...