Post-secondary educational organizations in the United States

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) was established in 1972 to represent the interests of the newly developed tribal colleges and universities, which are controlled and operated by American Indian nations. The four founders were Gerald One Feather of the Oglala Sioux Community College (now Oglala Lakota College), David Reisling of D–Q University, Pat Locke of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and Helen Schierbeck of the United States Office of Education (USOE). They organized the initial meeting and brought together all who wanted to form such a national organization. One of the most significant achievements of AIHEC was to work with the United States Congress to authorize in 1994 land-grant status to 29 tribal colleges, achieved in October 1994 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act. As a result, AIHEC is eligible to have a representative participate in the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Council of Presidents. With administrative headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. AIHEC's membership consists of 36 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in the United States and one in Canada, whose first tribal college achieved independent status in 1995. The presidents jointly govern AIHEC from the member institutions. The organization offers technical assistance to its member colleges and develops institutions, and leads efforts to promote the Tribal College Movement. In 1989, AIHEC established the American Indian College Fund (AICF) to raise scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities. == Compacts ==

Education Commission of the States Created in 1965, the Education Commission of the States is an interstate organization for information exchange to improve public education. The website offers a wide range of resources from publications to general news, projects and institutes. The organization has collaborated with the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and the National Center for Higher Education Management systems to create the National Collaborative for Postsecondary Education Policy. The collaborative focuses on meeting the needs of the students of home states. Findings from the collaboration emphasize state leadership and citizen groups to inform public opinion. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) was created in 1951 and is an interstate organization that promote collaboration between state governments and also provides data and policy analysis for educators, policymakers and governors of 15 states in the Western part of the United States. == Faculty union ==

American Association of University Professors The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) stated purpose is "to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good". Established in 1915, the organization began at a time when there were concerns over academic freedom. Also an era of laissez-faire economics, there was increased need for labor unionizing. University professors organized themselves to ensure their rights and freedoms in academic scholarship, ironically catalyst from a debate over economics. The organization advocates for the protection of academic freedom and promotes shared democratic governance for postsecondary education in the United States. American Federation of Teachers The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was founded in 1916 to promote the professional interests of teachers, including their economic and social interests through affiliation with international unionization. The organization hosts the Quality Education Standards in Teaching (QuEST) conference. National Education Association The National Education Association (NEA) offers resources and tools for research in education. The NEA Research Center provides detailed studies on issues related to governance in Higher Education. The research includes a variety of topics from the changing trends in European Higher Education and its potential effects for Europe and the United States to information on Community College faculty. The NEA also features a number of publications, including Update, The Almanac, Thought and Action, Advocate Online (each of which are available for visitors online), and several publications focused on academic justice and excellence. == Governing boards and legal ==

Association of Community College Trustees The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) notes that it is the only national association organized specifically to meet the needs of community college governing boards in the United States. The organization represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States. The organization hosts the annual National Community College Leadership Congress and the National Community College Legislative Summit delivered by experts on governance and public policy. The association hosts governance leadership institutes and provides other board leadership services for community college trustees, as well as advocates for community colleges at the federal level in Washington, D.C. ACCT's is the publisher of numerous books and booklets to promote effective community college governance, all of which are available for purchase online. Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) notes that it is the only national association organized to meet the needs of governing boards for higher education in the United States. The organization serves the trustees and regents, professional staff members, senior level administrators and associated CEOs of university governing boards with purpose to “foster cooperation among all education stakeholders” (AGB, 2006). The organization hosts conferences and workshops delivered by expert practitioners in higher education. The association offers consulting and benchmarking services. The AGB is also the host of the Zwingle Library and Resource Center and the Richard T. Ingram Center for Public Trusteeship and Governance. National Association of College and University Attorneys The purpose of the National Association of and University Attorneys (NACUA) is to educate and assist administrators and attorneys of legal issues in higher education. The association was founded in the 1960s by a group of legal specialists that provided counsel to colleges and universities (the first group of attorneys of such kind in the United States). The website states its mission “to advance the effective practice of higher education attorneys for the benefit of the colleges and universities they serve” (NACUA, 2006). The NACUA offers news from its own bulletin, service for legal reference, educational programs (workshops, seminars and learning materials), and publications related to legal issues in higher education. The publications consist of pamphlets, brochures, a scholarly journal, and a number of academic books that are available for mail order and purchase online. State Higher Education Executive Offices Established in 1954, the mission of the State of Higher Education Executive Offices (SHEEO) is to assist in sustaining educational systems, emphasize state planning, promote financing interests, cooperation with state agencies, formulate recommendations for relationships between institutions, government and private organizations, and encourage studies, planning and coordination. The office accomplishes these goals through service to statewide governing and coordinating boards. == Research ==

Educational Policy Institute The Educational Policy Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to the study of educational opportunity. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, EPI also has offices in Toronto, Canada, and Melbourne, Australia. EPI conducts policy analysis, program evaluation, and professional development in the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce areas. EPI conducts several conferences and workshops in the US, Canada and abroad each year. Higher Education Research Institute The Higher Education Research Institute is an organization at the University of California-based within the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. The institute serves as a center for interdisciplinary research in postsecondary education. Research and publications are available online and for purchase. The institute does provide detailed summaries of the research that is available for purchase. Institute for Higher Education Policy The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is an independent, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to access and success in postsecondary education around the world. Established in 1993, the Washington, D.C.-based organization uses unique research and innovative programs to inform key decision makers who shape public policy and support economic and social development. Presidents • Jamie Merisotis (1993–2007) • Thomas D. Parker (2008 as interim president) • Michelle Asha Cooper (2008–2021) • Mamie Voight (since 2021) The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization with aims to promote public policies “that enhance Americans' opportunities to pursue and achieve high-quality education and training beyond high school” (NCPPHE, 2006). Established in 1998, the center is a resource for policy development and as a catalyst for improving public policy in both K-Twelve and postsecondary education. In addition to conducting independent research, the national center produces performance results to communicate to key leaders and the general public its mission to be a catalyst to improving policy. National Center of Education Statistics Through the US Department of Education, the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) provides statistics for both K–12 and Higher Education. National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions (NCSCBHEP) was established in 1972. The center is supported by the Hunter College at the City University of New York. The NCSCBHEP is “an impartial and non-profit educational institution and serves as a clearinghouse forum for those engaged in the study and practice of collective bargaining” (NCSCBHEP, 2006). The center's services include an annual conference, workshops and publications. Publications from the NCSCBHEP include texts on the proceedings of the annual conference and commentary from the national executive, a directory of statistical analysis on collective bargaining, a bibliography of literature reviews, and monographs contributed by scholars. == See also ==