AAC&U Advancing Public Trust Leadership Institute (Hybrid) – Jan 22 – Jun 25

Posted by American Association of Colleges and Universities on August 11, 2026

In recent years, American confidence in and support for higher education has declined sharply. This erosion of public trust has created new urgency for colleges and universities to demonstrate their value, strengthen relationships with their communities, and respond effectively to challenges facing the sector.

If college and university leaders hope to fulfill their institutions’ missions and defend higher education from increased public and political scrutiny and threats to institutional autonomy, they need to tackle the problem of declining public trust. 

The Advancing Public Trust (APT) Leadership Institute is a new six-month hybrid experience from AAC&U designed to help campus teams diagnose challenges to legitimacy and credibility, strengthen relationships with key communities, and develop strategies to advance public trust in higher education. Building trust requires more than understanding the problem—it requires institutional leadership, coordinated action, and an approach grounded in each campus’s unique mission, community, and context.

The institute helps campus teams move from ideas to implementation by providing the framework, tools, mentorship, and collaborative learning environment needed to strengthen institutional trustworthiness and build lasting relationships with the communities they serve. By the end of the institute, each team will have developed a practical campus action plan to advance public trust and support its institution’s mission.

Learn more.

Early bird registration ends October 2. Register now.