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The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is an organization of state-supported colleges and universities that offer degree programs leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. AASCU grew out of the Association of Teacher Education Institutions that had been organized in 1951 to serve public comprehensive institutions most of them having begun as single purpose institutions, most of them normal schools.

Members of AASCU work to extend higher education to all citizens, including those who have been traditionally underrepresented on college campuses. By Delivering America’s Promise, these institutions fulfill the expectations of a public university by working for the public good through education and engagement, thereby improving the lives of people in their community, their region and their state. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities represents more than 400 public colleges, universities and systems of higher education throughout the United States and its territories.

AASCU has a fourfold purpose:

• To promote appreciation and support for public higher education and the distinctive contributions of member colleges and universities;
• To analyze public policy, and to advocate for member institutions and the students they serve;
• To provide policy leadership and program support to strengthen academic quality, promote access and inclusion, and facilitate educational innovation; and
• To create professional development opportunities for institutional leaders.

In the Fall of 2006 AASCU and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) began joint development of a Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) for public 4-year colleges and universities. This project is a response to the call by the Spellings Commission for increased accountability in higher education. Following a national call for nominations, over 90 people were appointed by the presidents of AASCU and NASULGC to work on this project. More information about VSA is avalalable at the VSA Project site. An important feature of this project is a high transparency design. Interested parties are invited to comment on the work of VSA while it is in progress. VSA Forums have been established to facilitate this design.

There are over 400 member institutions: List of AASCU Member Institutions

• American Association of State Colleges and Universities website