The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) is a national association that is committed to improving undergraduate education and advancing liberal education as the preferred philosophy of education for all students. AAC&U was founded in 1915 by college presidents, and it now has more than 1,150 members—colleges and universities of all types —large and small, public and private, two-year and four-year.

The mission of the Association of American Colleges and Universities is to make the aims of liberal learning a vigorous and constant influence on institutional purpose and educational practice in higher education. In pursuit of that mission it works to create links between presidents, administrators, and faculty who are involved in institutional and curricular planning.

AAC&U organizes its work around five broad goals: 1) a guiding vision for liberal education, 2) inclusive excellence, 3) intentional and integrative learning, 4) civic, diversity, and global engagement, and 5) authentic evidence.

AAC&U publishes several journals, including Liberal Education, Peer Review, "On Campus with Women, and Diversity and Democracy.

AAC&U sponsors many meetings and institutes for campus teams and publishes reports and monographs. Its most recent publication is College Learning for the New Global Century.

The headquarters for AAC&U are located in Washington, D.C.