The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) has joined the Proud Sponsor Campaign, a grassroots public service initiative focused on restoring the public’s trust in higher education through highlighting the role that colleges and universities play in fueling local prosperity, safeguarding public health and national security, facilitating democracy, and expanding access to the American dream.

“CUMU is proud to stand alongside organizations that are working to rebuild public trust and reaffirm the central role that colleges and universities play in advancing social and economic mobility, regional prosperity and community well-being” says CUMU CEO Valerie Holton.

Launched by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in partnership with BVK, the Proud Sponsor Campaign aims to reframe the discussion surrounding higher education by emphasizing the broad societal benefits of colleges and universities for degree earners, surrounding communities, and the nation as a whole.

This endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for higher education. The public is experiencing a crisis of confidence concerning the value of higher education. Just ten years ago, 57% of Americans expressed significant trust in higher education. Now, that number has plummeted to 42%. The Proud Sponsor campaign addresses this public anxiety by positioning “College” as a “Proud Sponsor of America at its best,” highlighting the role higher education plays in supporting economic growth, public health, national security, democratic participation, and innovation.

As an organization dedicated to strengthening the collective impact of urban and metropolitan campuses, CUMU’s endorsement of this campaign reflects our longstanding commitment to demonstrating how member campuses serve as anchor institutions in their communities. CUMU is proud to add our voice to the Proud Sponsor Campaign to work together to tell a broader, more expansive story about the public value of colleges and universities and their continued importance to the future of American communities.

Learn more about the Proud Sponsor campaign at Why College Matters.