The following is a statement from the Association of American Universities (AAU) Board of Directors:
The Association of American Universities (AAU) was founded 125 years ago to help create high standards of scholarship at America’s leading research universities. We did this to ensure that our own best and brightest, who before then had largely been traveling to Europe to complete their advanced degrees, would instead choose to continue their education in the United States. In the decades since, America’s leading research universities have become the envy of the world – and much of the world’s top talent has chosen to come to the U.S.to study, conduct groundbreaking research, and innovate.
Beginning with World War II, the federal government realized that these jewels in the world’s educational crown could further benefit the American people. With enthusiastic support from presidents and members of Congress of both parties, American taxpayers invested in research that helped us win the war, discover cures for diseases, invent technologies that took us to the moon and spawned the internet, and grew our economy. The research conducted at American universities has made our country secure and more prosperous than at any other era in its history. Endangering this incredibly successful partnership endangers the American greatness that it helped create.
American research universities also train the next generation of innovators and scientists. And they play essential roles in communities across the nation, serving as anchor institutions and leading employers, providing jobs and contributing to economic growth locally and nationally.
The free intellectual inquiry, exchange of ideas, and testing of evidence that help advance human knowledge in university settings are premised on the pillars of academic freedom, freedom of expression, and institutional autonomy. The commitment to these principles has allowed American research universities to thrive and to become among the best in the world. We reiterate our longstanding commitment to these principles.
The withdrawal of research funding for reasons unrelated to research sets a dangerous and counterproductive precedent. We urge the administration and Congress, in accordance with principles of due process, to work through the established Department of Education and Department of Justice procedures for investigating allegations of discrimination (including antisemitism, gender, or other forms of discrimination) on any campus. Following these established procedures is the best way to ensure accountability by universities and to preserve our nation’s place as the global leader in science and innovation.
America cannot afford to pause for one second in our race with China and other competitor nations – nations who are doubling down on their investments in university-based research into crucial emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Now, more than ever, we simply cannot risk impairment of the research enterprise that helped produce many of America’s greatest triumphs.
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 71 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society.
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