Publications
Explore the Martin Center’s publications to deepen your understanding of the critical issues in higher education. Our experts offer policy briefs, model legislation, and in-depth research that inform decision-making and drive positive change.
Our work focuses on responsible governance, viewpoint diversity, academic quality, cost-effective education solutions, and innovative market-based reforms.
Policy Brief: How Universities Should Choose Their Next Accreditor
Accreditation is one of the three tickets that every college in America must punch if it wants access to federal student aid (FSA) programs for its students. The current regulatory … Continue reading “Policy Brief: How Universities Should Choose Their Next Accreditor”
Policy Brief: It’s Time for More States to Sack SACS
Getting and keeping accreditation is critical for almost all colleges in the United States. Accreditation is third-party validation that a college meets minimum standards. Not only is institutional accreditation required … Continue reading “Policy Brief: It’s Time for More States to Sack SACS”
Model Legislation
Since 2022, the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal has crafted model legislation addressing various aspects of higher-ed reform. We invite state legislators, officials, and members of the public … Continue reading “Model Legislation”
Model Legislation: Fair Admissions Act
The Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. University of North Carolina was a victory for advocates of fair and race-neutral college admissions. With the decision, colleges … Continue reading “Model Legislation: Fair Admissions Act”
Model Legislation: General Education Act
American universities always have recognized citizens’ authority to shape the educational mission of public universities, particularly with respect to “general education”—courses prerequisite to graduation. Appointed or elected university trustees usually … Continue reading “Model Legislation: General Education Act”
Blueprints for Reform
The university system in the United States has accomplished a great deal of good, but it has strayed from its chief goals of scholarly inquiry and responsible teaching, especially in … Continue reading “Blueprints for Reform”
Making General Education Meaningful
Higher education serves many purposes. One purpose dominates, however: to students, their parents, future employers, government officials, and many academic administrators, higher education is all about preparing students for the … Continue reading “Making General Education Meaningful”
Model Legislation: Higher Education Governance Transparency Act
The Higher Education Governance Transparency Act can help restore transparency and accountability to university governance. Public university governing boards exist to serve the people of their states. It should, therefore, … Continue reading “Model Legislation: Higher Education Governance Transparency Act”
Preserving the Canon: Great Books Programs at America’s Colleges and Universities
Historically, higher learning was based on the study of the Great Works of thought of the Western canon. These works span a broad range of time, from the Classical period, … Continue reading “Preserving the Canon: Great Books Programs at America’s Colleges and Universities”