Provided by ACE
This week, college and university leaders convened for ACE Experience 2026, the annual conference of the American Council of Education (ACE). The event brought together presidents, chancellors, and senior administrators from across the country to connect, share insights, and reflect on the current landscape of higher education.
The conference opened with a Wednesday evening reception and brief remarks from Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president emeritus of University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Hrabowski urged attendees to remember the nobility of their work and to speak about higher education with pride. He led the audience in the familiar refrain he has championed for years: “Words. Actions. Habits. Character. Destiny.”
He joked that the audience’s response was weak, encouraging them to say it with more conviction. If we can cheer passionately for basketball, he suggested, surely we can bring that same passion to the transformative work of educating students. What we do matters — and it deserves to be spoken about with enthusiasm.
Thursday morning began with a candid session led by Ted Mitchell, president of ACE, alongside former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman.
Tom Stritikus, president of Occidental College and chair of the ACE Board of Directors, introduced Mitchell. He noted that higher education has heard no shortage of commentary about the difficult moment it faces. While the challenges are real, he encouraged leaders to stay hopeful and to take pride in the work happening across their institutions and higher education as a whole.
During the session, Mitchell outlined three key priorities for the sector:
- Improve: Institutions must hold themselves accountable for student success – not only in graduation rates, but also in career outcomes and pathways to social and economic mobility.
- Innovate: Colleges and universities should be open to experimentation, willing to identify areas for growth, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Inspire the public: Leaders must think creatively about the work institutions do and clearly communicate how higher education benefits individuals, communities, and the broader economy. We must also help the public see that higher education is for everyone.
Mitchell noted that ACE aims to advocate for higher education, particularly in a time when many campus leaders may face constraints. “We will not cower,” he said, referencing the organization’s efforts to defend institutions and oppose legislation that could undermine higher education as a whole. At the same time, he expressed a strong commitment to working with federal officials on shared priorities such as affordability and workforce outcomes.
Pressman offered an international perspective, describing how higher education in Hungary came under increasing federal control. His remarks highlighted the importance of safeguarding institutional independence and remaining attentive to how things can possibly evolve. He encouraged leaders to think proactively about protecting institutional independence in any political environment. While acknowledging that institutions often prefer to exercise restraint, he stressed the importance of speaking up. “You cannot keep your head down and get to the other side,” he said.
Across sessions, speakers at the conference returned to a consistent theme: higher education leaders have both responsibility and opportunity. By strengthening outcomes, embracing innovation, and communicating impact clearly, institutions can continue to serve students and communities effectively in the years ahead.
