Austin College President Marjorie Hass was one of six educational leaders elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) during the organization’s recent annual meeting in San Francisco, California.
The board, which includes 30-plus members, serves as the leadership of AAC&U, a national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantage of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career.
The AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises nearly 1,400 member institutions – including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.
“AAC&U is fortunate to have the leadership of a strong and dedicated board of directors committed to making liberal education and inclusive excellence the foundation for institutional purpose and educational practice,” said AAC&U president Lynn Pasquerella. “I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure AAC&U’s mission is enacted in meaningful ways on the campuses and in the communities of our member institutions.”
Dr. Hass, the 15th president of Austin College, will continue her role through June 2017, having recently announced her intention to leave Austin College to assume the presidency of Rhodes College in Tennessee as of July 1, 2017.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.