The U.S. Department of Education convened a March 22 summit on higher education to address the goals of its plan to reform higher education in America.
Over 250 business and academic leaders and officials gathered in Washington, D.C., and hammered out a list of 25 "action items" to help the Department achieve some of what it set out to do.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling first announced the plan in October 2006, shortly after the Department's Commission on Higher Education released its annual report.
She expressed a desire to retool the nation's financial aid programs and to hold colleges and universities accountable for student learning and achievement. She also indicated her support of No Child Left Behind.
Spellings' prepared remarks from last week's summit, however, took a more muted tone compared to her initial plans. A few of Spellings' previous comments made some educators leery due to their apparent hard-line approach toward reform.
This time, however, she said she was "honored to share" the responsibility of reform with colleges and universities. "We're working to do our part," she said. "But more importantly, we're not working alone."
In September, she talked about "transparency and accountability," but last week tried to emphasize a broader scope of change and to appeal to the sensibilities of college and university officials.
"America's universities have long been the envy of the world," said Spellings' prepared remarks. "But the data shows that we are in danger of losing that position."
"At a time when more Americans need a degree, it's becoming more difficult to get one-and for low-income and minority students it can be nearly impossible."
The officials present at the summit-including elected officials, university presidents and corporate CEOs-set to work in group sessions before coming up with their list of action items.
While many of the action items did not come with an implementation plan, Department officials told the Chronicle of Higher Education that they would determine ways to act on them-and who would be responsible for them-in the near future.
Over 250 business and academic leaders and officials gathered in Washington, D.C., and hammered out a list of 25 "action items" to help the Department achieve some of what it set out to do.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling first announced the plan in October 2006, shortly after the Department's Commission on Higher Education released its annual report.
She expressed a desire to retool the nation's financial aid programs and to hold colleges and universities accountable for student learning and achievement. She also indicated her support of No Child Left Behind.
Spellings' prepared remarks from last week's summit, however, took a more muted tone compared to her initial plans. A few of Spellings' previous comments made some educators leery due to their apparent hard-line approach toward reform.
This time, however, she said she was "honored to share" the responsibility of reform with colleges and universities. "We're working to do our part," she said. "But more importantly, we're not working alone."
In September, she talked about "transparency and accountability," but last week tried to emphasize a broader scope of change and to appeal to the sensibilities of college and university officials.
"America's universities have long been the envy of the world," said Spellings' prepared remarks. "But the data shows that we are in danger of losing that position."
"At a time when more Americans need a degree, it's becoming more difficult to get one-and for low-income and minority students it can be nearly impossible."
The officials present at the summit-including elected officials, university presidents and corporate CEOs-set to work in group sessions before coming up with their list of action items.
While many of the action items did not come with an implementation plan, Department officials told the Chronicle of Higher Education that they would determine ways to act on them-and who would be responsible for them-in the near future.
