The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is a national organization dedicated to Jesuit higher education in the United States. It was formed in 1970 alongside the Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA) to replace the more broadly-scoped Jesuit Educational Association (JEA), which ceased operation the same year. AJCU assumed the responsibilities of JEA's Commission on Colleges and Universities. Over the decades since its formation, it has facilitated collaboration among the Jesuit institutions of higher education, as well as between them and the Jesuit Provincials. It has also served as the mechanism to coordinate response and implementation of initiatives coming from the Jesuit Superior General in Rome, as well as standards for Catholic education issued by the Pope.

The AJCU Board of Directors, composed of the presidents of member institutions plus the national officers, held three annual meetings to facilitate information sharing and identify issues in Jesuit higher education. AJCU's national office was staffed with a president, vice president, and secretary, who produced regular newsletters and fact sheets to further communication. In addition to the Board and national officers, the AJCU structure included two commissions: Educational Policy and Practices, and Federal and State Relations. The Educational Policy commission fostered collaboration through what were initially termed Conferences, and later Networks, which covered areas of academic work such as financial aid, mission and ministry, registrars, or academic vice presidents. The Federal and State Relations commission watched for legislation that would be impactful to the colleges and universities and disseminated information through regular memos and the Government Relations Conference, the only one of the conferences that did not report to the Educational Policy commission.

As of 2025, AJCU states its mission as follows: "The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is a national organization that represents Jesuit higher education among its various constituencies; provides a forum for the exchange of information and experiences in Jesuit higher education; and encourages and facilitates collaborative initiatives among its member institutions. Those initiatives include: fostering Jesuit, Catholic identity and mission; educating for a faith that does justice; supporting national, international and online collaborations between campuses; and sponsoring professional and leadership development programs."

AJCU is an ongoing organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Sources:

Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities website "About" page, accessed on December 9, 2025.