Government-Funded Educational Resources
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Independent committee created by Congress to advise on student financial aid policy. http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/edlite-index.html
Committee on Education and Labor (U.S. House of Representatives). Information on current and past legislative activity, committee membership, and structure. http://edlabor.house.gov/
Committee on Science and Technology (U.S. House of Representatives). Information on current and past legislative activity, committee membership, and structure. http://science.house.gov/
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (U.S. Senate). Information on current and past legislative activity, committee membership, and structure of the U.S. Senate HELP Committee. http://help.senate.gov/
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (U.S. Senate). Information on current and past legislative activity, committee membership, and structure. http://commerce.senate.gov/public/
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). A federally funded national information system that provides a variety of services and products on a broad range of education-related issues. http://www.eric.ed.gov
National Science Foundation. Independent federal agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs that invest more than $3.3 billion per year in almost 20,000 research and education projects. Site includes extensive information on education, including WebCASPAR, a database system designed to provide quick and convenient access to a wide range of statistical data focusing on U.S. universities and colleges and their science and engineering resources. http://www.nsf.gov
Thomas. Web site for the U.S. Congress with extensive information on bills, status, appropriations, committee assignments, and activities. Maintained by the Library of Congress. http://thomas.loc.gov/
U.S. Census Bureau. Serves as the source of quality data about the nation's people and economy. http://www.census.gov/
U.S. Department of Education. Features information on programs and services, publications and products, grants and secretary's initiatives, plus guides for teachers and a host of links to other education sites. http://www.ed.gov/
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Statistics on enrollment and attainment.
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board. Works with the Assistant Secretary of Education and Office of Educational Research and Improvement to determine research priorities and evaluation standards.
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/NERPPB/
- National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, Policy-Making, and Management. The institute provides national leadership and support to develop and disseminate information that helps guide the design and implementation of effective governance strategies, coherent policy formation, reasonable management decisions, and equitable finance allocations that will support high levels of learning by all students.
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/GFI/
- National Network of Regional Educational Laboratories. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement of the U.S. Department of Education funds ten Regional Educational Laboratories around the nation. These provide applied research and development projects leading to systemic school reform.
http://www.nwrel.org/national/
- Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. http://www.sedl.org/
National Center for Education Statistics. Collects, analyzes, and makes available data related to education in the United States and other nations.
http://nces.ed.gov
- Office of Federal Student Aid. Performance-based organization that administers the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/fsa/index.html?src=oc
- Office of Postsecondary Education. Formulates federal postsecondary education policy and administers programs that address critical national needs in support of the mission to increase access to quality postsecondary education.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html?src=oc
- Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Provides information, research, and resources to help prepare young people and adults for postsecondary education, successful careers, and productive lives.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html?src=oc
- Institute of Education Sciences. Department of Education’s main research arm, consisting of the National Center for Education Research, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Compiles statistics; funds research, evaluations, and dissemination; and provides research-based guidance to further evidence-based policy and practice.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ies/index.html
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Other Government Resources
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Higher Education Associations
American Association for Higher Education. Higher education association involved with civic engagement, faculty development, assessment, and quality. Publishes CHANGE magazine. http://www.aahe.org
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. National association of colleges and universities with undergraduate or graduate programs to prepare professional educators. Site includes extensive education policy clearinghouse. http://www.aacte.org/
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Professional association of more than 9,300 higher education administrators who represent more than 2,400 institutions and agencies in the United States and 39 other countries. http://www.aacrao.org/
American Association of Community Colleges. Serves two-year, technical and vocational institutions worldwide. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/
American Association of State Colleges and Universities. National public higher education association representing more than 425 public colleges, universities, and systems of public higher education. http://www.aascu.org
American Association of University Professors. Membership open to college and university faculty members, administrators, graduate students, and the public. Defends academic freedom and tenure, advocates collegial governance, and develops policies ensuring due process. http://www.aaup.org/
American Association of University Women. National association committed to promoting education and equity for women and girls. http://www.aauw.org/
American College Personnel Association. Student affairs association that advances student affairs and engages students for a lifetime of learning and discovery. http://www.myacpa.org
American Council on Education. National umbrella association for higher education. Current information on higher education policy, legislation, and national developments. http://www.acenet.edu
American Educational Research Association. International professional organization committed to advancing educational research and its practical application. http://www.aera.net
American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J: Postsecondary Education. Division within the AERA focused on all dimensions of postsecondary education. Members include researchers, administrators, and educators interested in postsecondary education in a variety of settings. http://www.aera.net/divisions/j/
Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). International association committed to full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities. Site includes links to court decisions, publications, job postings, and status of pertinent legislation. http://www.ahead.org
Association for Institutional Research. International association for administrators and researchers in higher education. http://www.airweb.org/
Association for the Study of Higher Education. Scholarly society dedicated to higher education as a field of study. http://www.ashe.ws
Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Council on International Higher Education. Membership organization within ASHE engaged in the study of higher education from a comparative or international perspective. http://www.higher-ed.org/international
Association of American Colleges and Universities. National association committed to making the aims of liberal learning a vigorous and constant influence on institutional purpose and educational practice in higher education. http://www.aacu-edu.org/
Association of American Universities. Association of public and private research universities. Assists with federal and institutional policy development. Extensive listing of policy documents and reports, including teacher education, distance learning, and accreditation. http://www.aau.edu
Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Dedicated to strengthening public and private higher education; it advances the practice of voluntary trusteeship that has distinguished American higher education for more than 350 years. http://www.agb.org/
Business–Higher Education Forum. Membership organization of leaders from American businesses, colleges and universities, and museums. The goals of the group are to increase communication among the sectors, to analyze issues of mutual concern, and to deliberate on courses of action that will effect change on these topics. http://www.acenet.edu/programs/bhef/
Campus Compact. National membership organization of more than 900 college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. http://www.compact.org/
College and University Personnel Association. Network of more than 6,400 human resource administrators at nearly 1,700 colleges and universities worldwide, as well as other groups interested in the advancement of human resources in higher education—including students, human resource service providers, and honorary life members. http://www.cupa.org/
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. Association representing independent higher education in New York State. Site includes policy and legistlative links of both state and national interest. http://www.cicu.org
Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration. Membership organization committed to enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation in the North American community by fostering collaboration among higher education institutions in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. http://www.conahec.org/
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. National nonprofit organization that creates and manages effective learning strategies for working adults through partnerships with employers, higher education, government, and labor. http://www.cael.org/
Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications, and development. Advances and supports educational institutions by enhancing the effectiveness of the alumni relations, communications, and fund-raising professionals who serve them. http://www.case.org/
Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Private, nonprofit national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. http://www.chea.org/
Council for Opportunity in Education. Nonprofit membership organization dedicated to furthering the expansion of educational opportunities throughout the United States. http://www.trioprograms.org/
Council of Graduate Schools. Organization of institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada, and across the globe engaged in graduate education, research scholarship, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. http://www.cgsnet.org/
Council of Higher Education Management Associations. Informal, voluntary assembly of 30 management-oriented higher education associations in the United States and Canada. http://www.chemanet.org/
Council on Law and Higher Education. Interdisciplinary membership association dedicated to improving the understanding of higher education law and public policy. Site includes links to publications as well as detailed information on such issues as affirmative action and records management. http://clhe.org
Education Commission of the States. National research and policy organization providing resources to states on both K-12 and higher education. http://www.ecs.org
EDUCAUSE. Helps to shape and enable transformational change in higher education through the introduction, use, and management of information resources and technologies in teaching, learning, scholarship, research, and institutional management. Note: EDUCOM and CAUSE merged to form this organization in 1998. http://www.educause.edu/
International Association of Universities. UNESCO-affiliated organization formally established in 1950 to encourage links between universities and colleges throughout the world. http://www.unesco.org/iau/
League for Innovation in the Community College. International consortium committed to improving community colleges through innovation, experimentation, and institutional transformation. http://www.league.org
NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Professional association of 8,900 individuals from all 50 states and 84 countries advancing international education and exchange. http://www.nafsa.org
National Academy of Education. Promotes scholarly inquiry and discussion concerning the ends and means of education, in all its forms, in the United States and abroad. Consists of up to 150 members who are elected on the basis of outstanding scholarship or outstanding contributions to education. http://www.nae.nyu.edu/
National Association for College Admission Counseling. Organization of 8,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. http://www.nacac.com
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. National umbrella and advocacy organization for more than 100 of the nation’s historically and predominantly black colleges and universities. http://www.nafeo.org
National Association of College and University Attorneys . Dedicated to advancing the effective practice of higher education attorneys for the benefit of the colleges and universities they serve. http://www.nacua.org/
National Association of College and University Business Officers. Nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 2,100 colleges and universities across the country. http://www.nacubo.org/
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Represents independent higher education. Provides assistance in improvement of teacher education, quality, and legislative activities. http://www.naicu.edu/
National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. National association committed to the promotion, strengthening, encouragement, and enhancement of high standards in the administration and operation of student grant and aid programs. http://www.nassgap.org/
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Association of public universities, land-grant institutions, and public university systems. http://nasulgc.org/
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. National association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and professional development for financial aid administrators. http://www.nasfaa.org/
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. National association for college and university student affairs administrators. http://www.naspa.org/
National Association of System Heads (NASH). Membership organization of chief executive officers of the public higher education systems in 38 states and Puerto Rico. Seeks to improve the governance of public higher education systems. Works with K-12 systems and civic leaders to build statewide K-16 vehicles to promote and carry out a coordinated, standards-based education reform strategy. http://www.nashonline.org/
National Collegiate Athletic Association. Membership-led association of colleges and universities with athletics programs, athletic conferences, and sports organizations devoted to the sound administration of intercollegiate athletics. http://www.ncaa.org/
National Council for Higher Education. Independent organization for higher education members within the National Education Association. http://www.nea.org/he/nche/index.html
North Central Association of Schools and Colleges: The Higher Learning Commission. Regional institutional accrediting association committed to developing and maintaining high standards of excellence. http://www.ncacihe.org
OECD Institutional Management in Higher Education. Membership forum serving policy makers in national and regional authorities, managers of higher education institutions, and researchers. Focused specifically on the management of higher education with regard to educational policy. Activities include work on research management, institutional governance, financial management, and internationalization. http://www.oecd.org/department/0,2688,en_2649_34525_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
Renaissance Group. Organization of public comprehensive universities dedicated to improving the education of teachers. http://www.emporia.edu/rengroup/
Society for College and University Planning. International association focused on the promotion, advancement, and application of effective planning in higher education. http://www.scup.org/
Society for Research into Higher Education. Scholarly association for higher education research established in 1965 in Great Britain. Publishes "Higher Education Quarterly" and "Research into Higher Education." http://www.srhe.ac.uk/
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Commission on Colleges. Regional accrediting body in 11 U.S. southern states and in Latin America for higher education institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees. http://www.sacscoc.org/
State Higher Education Executive Officers. Nonprofit, nationwide association of chief executive officers serving statewide coordinating boards and governing boards of postsecondary education. Its objectives include developing the interest of the states in supporting quality higher education and promoting the importance of state planning and coordination as the most effective means of gaining public confidence in higher education. http://www.sheeo.org
Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). Nonprofit organization of institutions of higher education and others devoted to the improvement of degree programs for professional educators. Accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.teac.org
University Council for Educational Administration. Consortium of major research universities with doctoral programs in educational leadership and policy. Committed to improving the preparation of educational leaders and promoting the development of professional knowledge in school improvement and administration. http://www.ucea.org/
Washington Higher Education Secretariat (WHES). Comprises 50 national higher education associations representing the different sectors and functions in postsecondary institutions. http://www.whes.org/
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