2010 Annual Report - The American Council of Trustees and Alumni

From the President
Dear ACTA Friend:
Pick up a newspaper and what do you see? “Why Does
College Cost So Much?,” “American College Students
Shortchanged,” “Governor Says Colleges are Too Top
Heavy.” The challenges in higher education are making
the news—and the news sounds a lot like what ACTA
has been saying for years!
It was just 15 years ago when ACTA opened its doors.
We were a lone voice for academic excellence, academic
freedom, and accountability in higher education.
Now, thanks to your support, we are not alone—indeed,
we are leading the charge! ACTA’s call for higher education
reform is being heard in Washington, in state
capitals, and in the homes of parents, students, and
policymakers across America. Everywhere I look,
education leaders are responding to ACTA’s theme
to return higher education to first principles—quality
education at an affordable price.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are tremendous
challenges in higher education—and I don’t wish to
understate them. But I hope you will agree: as I survey
the landscape, there are signs of real progress. Progress
made possible by you.
Described in the next few pages, you will see the results
of ACTA’s unrelenting campaign to say no to the status
quo. You’ll see the incredible impact our What Will
They Learn? project is having in providing parents and
students with the information they need to locate the
best quality education at the lowest cost. You’ll see how
our outreach to trustees is changing the “go along-get
along” culture that has rubber-stamped administrators’