PACU HISTORY

Founded in 1896, the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) is the nation's oldest state-based organization devoted to higher education. PACU is a voluntary association of 85 institutions drawn from all sectors of the Pennsylvania higher education community. All member institutions are chartered by the Commonwealth and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or by other national accrediting agencies. Each member institution may also belong to one of four sector-specific organizations:

• The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP);
• The Commission for Commonwealth Universities
• The Commission for the Universities of the Pennsylvania State System of
  Higher Education and
• The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC).

Now in its second century of service, the Association continues to support its members as they provide access and choice to all those seeking educational opportunities of the highest quality.