Our Vision
We envision a future where purposeful knowledge counts more than credentials, where public investment in higher education provides value to students and society, and where liberal learning is once again tailored to the cultivation of free and flourishing minds.
Our Mission
As a private, educational nonprofit focused on public policy, the purpose of the Martin Center is to renew and fulfill the promise of higher education in North Carolina and across the country.
Since 2003, the Martin Center has been a voice for excellence and accountability in higher education. We believe that higher education should equip students to flourish in their careers, embrace responsible citizenship, and grow as seekers of wisdom. We advocate responsible governance, viewpoint diversity, academic quality, cost-effective education solutions, and innovative market-based reform.
In these endeavors, we are motivated by the principles that have traditionally guided public policy in the United States: limits on government; freedom to pursue goals through voluntary means, both for-profit and nonprofit; accountability through private property rights and contracts; and the belief that competition is an excellent regulating force.
What We Do
Our approach to reform is twofold: First, we promote policies at the state and university level to improve higher education governance and practices. Second, we use “sunlight” to expose critical issues in higher education through opinion articles, newsletters, events, and research. Our work informs parents, alumni, taxpayers, and policymakers to spark conversation and policy change.
The Martin Center is a 501(c)3 public charity and relies solely on private funding. We are located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and have a special focus on our home state.