Final Report of The Lincoln Project: Public Research Universities -- Recommitting to Lincoln's Vision

WASHINGTON, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson has released the following statement regarding “Public Research Universities: Recommitting to Lincoln’s Vision -- An Educational Compact for the 21st Century,” which the American Academy of Arts and Sciences released as the final report of The Lincoln Project: Excellence and Access in Public Higher Education.

“Beginning with President Lincoln’s enactment of the Morrill Act in 1862, the United States and its states have sought to build, foster, and support a network of public universities designed to offer access to a higher education for all who want it, not just the privileged. This commitment has served not just the many students who attend these institutions, but also society and our nation at large, which enjoy the vast array of economic, cultural, and social benefits born out of research, educational, and other activities at as these institutions.

“But in just the last decade, state support for public research universities has sharply eroded by more than one-third. This has left the 3.8 million students who attend public research universities each year and their families to shoulder much of that cost. And it threatens to undermine more than 150 years of progress that effectively made our public research universities into national treasures that are the envy of the world.

“Through the words of some of the most prominent leaders in business, government, and academia, the final report from The Lincoln Project serves as a call for swift action to save and strengthen these institutions. Above all else, the report makes clear that states must reinvest in their public universities and avoid betraying the promise of an affordable, accessible higher education for all who seek it. The authors make clear that the long-term success of our nation’s economy, prosperity, and security is rooted in the investments made in our public research universities.

“Beyond serving as the great economic equalizer for so many, public research universities have been behind countless discoveries -- from life-saving vaccines and medicines to the Internet and smartphones. These institutions serve as regional anchors in their states, working in partnership with businesses and communities to solve regional and local problems.

“As our nation works toward meetings its goal of having 60 percent adult working age population possess a post-secondary degree, it is public research universities that will play a central role. As the Lincoln Report makes clear, to make this a reality these institutions will need the full backing of the states and federal government.”

Featured

  • K12 Tutoring Earns Every Student Succeeds Act Level II Validation

    Personalized online tutoring service K12 Tutoring recently announced that it has received Level II validation underneath the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), according to a news release. The independently validated study provides evidence of K12 Tutoring’s role in creating positive student outcomes through effective academic intervention and research-based solutions.

  • Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis Through Creative Campus Development

    Many Southern California college and university campuses are living amidst surging housing costs, driving the need to house more of their populations on campus. Especially for community colleges, the need to support millions of unhoused and housing insecure students has become a prominent issue that lawmakers and institutions alike are trying to solve.

  • PNSI Global Alliance Launches New Quality Assurance Certification

    PNSI Global Alliance, a network of technology integrators and service providers, recently introduced a new Quality Assurance Certification (QAC) for AV service and support, according to a press release. The two-day, interactive workshop QAC course is designed for Certified Solution Providers (CSPs) to provide them with the most up-to-date and advanced quality assurance knowledge available.

  • UT-Austin Breaks Ground on 17-Story Business School

    The University of Texas at Austin recently broke ground on a new, 17-story facility that will serve as the new home for the school’s McCombs School of Business, according to university news. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 10 for Mulva Hall, which will include amenities like classrooms, academic department suites, research centers, faculty offices, the dean’s office, and gathering spaces.

Digital Edition