The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education promotes public policies that enhance Americans' opportunities to pursue and achieve high-quality education and training beyond high school. As an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the National Center prepares action-oriented analyses of pressing policy issues facing the states and the nation regarding opportunity and achievement in higher education-including two- and four-year, public and private, for-profit and nonprofit institutions. The National Center communicates performance results and key findings to the public, to civic, business and higher education leaders, and to state and federal leaders who are poised to improve higher education policy.
Established in 1998, the National Center is not affiliated with any institution of higher education, with any political party, or with any government agency.
In working to improve higher education through effective public policy, the National Center serves both as a resource and catalyst:
A Resource for Policy Development. The National Center conducts independent research and analyses of pressing policy issues facing the states and the nation regarding opportunity and achievement in higher education.
A Catalyst for improving Public Policy. The National Center communicates performance results and key findings to the public, to civic, business, and higher education leaders, and to public officials who are poised to improve public policies regarding higher education.
The National Center's Board of Directors, chaired by former Governor James B. Hunt Jr. of North Carolina, is composed of decision-makers across the political spectrum from government, business, and education. The National Center defines higher education to include all education and training beyond high school, including two- and four-year, public and private, for-profit and nonprofit institutions.