HEDS was created in 1983 as a joint venture of Tufts University, EDUCOM and participating colleges and universities. It is now an independent not-for-profit corporation governed by a Board of Directors and its members.

HEDS is a consortium of more than 140 premier private colleges and universities with an emphasis on liberal arts education.

The consortium operates under a philosophy of cooperation. Members are encouraged to share their data and in doing so will receive valuable, comparative data from other institutions supplying information. A member-driven organization, HEDS collects and distributes information determined by our members to be of great value in strategic planning.

The consortium supports its member institutions in strategic planning and research through the collection and sharing of special studies and research reports, networking opportunities and outstanding professional development.

The four-member staff is headquartered at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster PA.