U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued an open letter to America’s colleges and universities on August 3, 2026. The letter called on every post-secondary institution in the country to detail its commitment to specific areas of reform, including admissions transparency, campus free speech, intellectual pluralism and diversity of perspectives, college affordability, academic rigor, research security against foreign influences, and national service.
Each of the eight universities that comprise Mississippi’s public university system reflect a commitment to quality academic standards and the production of graduates who will lead in the years to come. That commitment is outlined in the state's response to Secretary McMahon, signed by Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Al Rankins, Jr., and the eight institutional executive officers of Mississippi's universities.
Read the IHL reponse to the U.S. Department of Education Call to Action here.
