Renewing the Federal and Higher Education Partnership: A Call for Collaboration

The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) joins more than 50 national higher education organizations in a unified call to renew and strengthen the long-standing partnership between the federal government and colleges and universities. This relationship has been central to the nation’s progress—advancing research, innovation, education, and economic growth that benefit all Americans.

The letter emphasizes the importance of a balanced and respectful partnership, where institutions maintain the ability to determine academic programs, admissions practices, and campus governance, while continuing to support national priorities through education and research. Recent challenges have highlighted the need to safeguard this balance to ensure stable, predictable support for students, researchers, and campuses.

Rather than allowing disagreements to weaken trust, the signatories call for open dialogue and collaboration to meet shared goals. They affirm that continuous improvement and accountability are essential, and that renewed cooperation can help higher education continue to serve the public good and contribute to a stronger future for the country.