A coalition spanning higher-ed unions and faculty groups argued that higher education must be rebuilt to restore public trust, pointing to disinvestment-driven cost pressure, transparency gaps, and culture-conflict governance failures. The policy agenda, framed as “A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education,” calls for free and accessible higher education without crushing debt, plus fair pay and job security. Yale’s report on eroding public trust is cited as a catalyst for renewed attention, alongside a Pew Research Center poll indicating 70% of Americans believe higher education is headed in the wrong direction. The authors argue reforms and messaging alone will not resolve structural issues. For higher-ed leaders, the relevance is the linkage between trust, labor conditions, and governance mechanisms—particularly demands for democratic institutional decision-making that includes faculty, staff, and students.