Represents 18 member institutions which offer higher education in the Franciscan spiritual and intellectual tradition at the undergraduate and graduate (masters and doctoral degrees) level.

Research enterprise focused on the issues of measuring university performance and rankings of top public research universities.

Provides professional and educational development services for the presidents, deans, and faculty for over 500 independent liberal arts colleges and universities.

Accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.

IAU members are individual universities and major regional and national university organisations (approximately 150 different countries).

Policy research on opportunity for postsecondary education and training.

Aims to improve the quality of higher education through the encouragement of debate and publication on issues of policy, on the organisation and management of higher education institutions, and on the curriculum.