Statement by AASCU President and CEO Charles L. Welch on Confirmation of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education  

Contact:
Kellee Edmonds
(202) 478-4662
edmondsk@aascu.org

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2025 – “AASCU congratulates Secretary-designate Linda McMahon on her successful confirmation by the full Senate as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. 

We look forward to working collaboratively with the new secretary and her team to develop policies and implement strategies to strengthen public higher education and provide equal opportunity for every student. AASCU looks forward to being an active partner in finding feasible solutions to the myriad policy challenges confronted today by students, administrators, faculty, and staff to further increase public higher education’s affordability and accessibility. 

The 520 regional public universities (RPUs) across the country, representing 86% of all public universities and enrolling 4.9 million undergraduate students, are the engines of economic development and upward social mobility. Together with local industries and businesses, they generate the necessary workforce across the spectrum of academic disciplines for thousands of local and regional communities. RPUs award 66% of all bachelor’s degrees and 67% of all master’s degrees.” 

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The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to underrepresented student populations, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.