APLU: A North American Higher Education Association

The statement below, “The Knowledge Zone of Ideas, Progress and Free People,” is a foundational statement of APLU, an organization of leading public research universities and university systems in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.  A draft document was widely circulated to membership leaders and discussed at the APLU annual meeting and in other forums.  The final statement includes important feedback and refinement.

This document provides the overarching and driving purposes for public universities in North America to work together for the region, their countries, and their students and faculty.  APLU looks forward to working together to expand and enrich research in energy, food, water, environment, health, economic development, and much more. We will work together on problems that cut across the three countries, including research and student and faculty exchange.

A Knowledge Zone of Ideas, Progress, and Free People

APLU is an association of more than 230 public research universities and university systems in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

APLU and its members are committed to championing ideas that drive the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge to solve the most vexing challenges of their country and region. They are committed to free peoples who have access to the education and opportunity necessary to shape their own destinies.

APLU and its members have a strong commitment to both joint research and student/faculty exchanges across North America. In addition, APLU and its members see themselves as important partners in the growing economic and social collaboration of the three countries. The process is at times uneven and the collaboration must respect and build upon each country’s unique strengths. While ties between Canada, Mexico, and the United States continue to deepen, their societies are already inextricably linked.

Cross-continent trade has been a key driver of these growing ties. A series of trade agreements – including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – have spurred greater trade and investments and enabled closer collaboration. By leveraging each country’s advantages, improving communication, and bolstering cooperation, these agreements have transformed the continent.

The continent’s present and future rests, of course, in its people. A large number of people from each country work and live in the other partner countries. The U.S., in particular, is seeing a rapid growth in its Hispanic population. And with those changing demographics, the U.S. is experiencing a major positive cultural impact. Although immigration remains a contentious political issue in the United States, APLU, in keeping with its role as a North American association, has been a leader in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform to the U.S. Congress.

The deepening economic, social, and cultural relationship among the three countries has produced improvements across the continent. But important as this progress may be, a large number of issues remain unresolved. Many issues facing each country have cross-border implications, including on the continent’s environment, agriculture, human and animal health, and energy. Gains in human welfare and economic prosperity in the past three decades prove what is possible when the continent’s three countries work together, and have helped clarify the need for further integration and cooperation.

The public universities in the three countries are significant institutions – educationally, economically, and culturally. They all have the public purpose of educating students, undertaking research, and contributing solutions to the problems facing their regions, countries, and the international community at large. As a North American higher education association, APLU and its members understand they are uniquely positioned to address the challenges and opportunities facing the continent. As public institutions, APLU and its members believe they must contribute to the solutions and progress of the region through education, joint research, and collaborative problem solving.

It is the commitment of APLU and its members to contribute to and help drive progress across North America through a “Zone of Knowledge.” APLU embraces its role as a catalyst to promote interaction, participation, and joint work across the continent through its wide range of councils, commissions, committees and special initiatives. This document serves as a framework from which to build.