A NATIONAL DIALOGUE:

The Secretary of Education’s Commission

UMMARY on the Future of Higher Education

S ummary o f Meeting
February 7, 2006, Seattle
A variety of topics and emotions were presented in a two-part hearing of A National Dialogue: The Secretary
of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education on February 7 in Seattle. Leading educational
experts spoke passionately of innovative programs and policies to improve higher education while college
students described their struggles to pay for school and fervently sought an expanded federal role in
financial aid. The testimony was widespread but dutifully reflected the central task of the Commission—to
develop a comprehensive strategy for higher education that recognizes diversity and addresses the future
economic and workforce needs of America. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the
formation of the Commission last September and requested a final report with “bold” recommendations in
August. Commission members attending were Mr. Richard Stephens of The Boeing Company, who served
as acting chair; Dr. Richard Vedder of Ohio University; Dr. James Duderstadt of the University of Michigan;
Dr. Robert Mendenhall of Western Governors College, and Ms. Sara Martinez Tucker of the Hispanic
Scholarship Fund. The goal of this session was to hear prepared testimony, then open the proceedings to
the community at large.

Remarks by Dr. Sam Smith, President Emeritus, Washington State University

Smith advocated more private and public sector partnerships to address accessibility and affordability
issues. He believes America is losing ground in key subject areas, particularly in math, science, engineering,
and technology. “There is no question that our higher education system as compared to other countries
around the world is slipping,” he said, calling for new funding methods to keep institutions competitive. “Our
universities today are working . . . with very limited resources.”

Vedder: Should we be doing more online things with bright kids in their junior and senior years in high
school, encouraging them to attend universities early?
Smith: The divide between high school and college is a foolish device. The more we look at institutions that
are a combination and the more we can use the technology to bridge that, I think the better off.

Remarks by Dr. Pam Tate, President, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Tate said the Commission must pay attention to adult learners because they are 45 percent of
undergraduate students and future workforce demands make them valuable assets. Regarding affordability,
she said a national survey shows only 35 percent of some 7,000 employers offered tuition assistance. She
recommended employing “a social marketing campaign” to get small and mid-sized businesses and industry
more involved in higher education.

Tucker: Have you found a difference between adult learners retraining for better or different jobs and those
making their way to higher education for the first time?
Tate: Yes. We see a very different kind of support needed for people coming to education for the first time.
A lot are lacking the most basic skills necessary for success in college; whereas those who are returning for
retraining at least have a level of skill and knowledge they can bring to the table.

Remarks by Dr. Charles H. Mitchell, Chancellor, Seattle Community College District

Mitchell described the educational mission of America’s more than 1,150 community colleges and their
importance to the economic, cultural and civic well being of the population. He urged increased state and
local funding, greater reliance on community colleges to deal with workforce needs, and wider recognition of
their role in remedial and pre-college education.
2 n Summ ary Rep or t February 7, 2006

Anderson: I do find a lot of conservatism at the university, but I

Remarks by Dr. David Conley, Director, Center also find tremendous energy on the part of individual faculty in
for Educational Policy Research, University experimentation and innovation.
of Oregon
Remarks by Ms. Pam Silas, Executive
Conley questioned the effectiveness of the high school-college Director, American Indian Science and
separation, noting there was little accountability regarding who
is admitted to higher education and the fate of the “middle fifty Engineering Society
percent” of scholastic achievers. “They’re really not prepared
for what they run into.” He recommended a closer working Silas said a complex history, socio-economic barriers to
relationship between high schools and colleges and a review of pursuing higher education, and distrust of school systems
entry-level courses. that advocate assimilation has made achievement difficult
in Native American communities. Nonetheless, her program
has helped 17,000 Native Americans pursue degrees
Remarks by Mr. Mark A. Emmert, President, in science and engineering. “A lot of our population is
University of Washington still in very rural and remote areas,” she said. “Access
to opportunities and role models is minimal.” Silas
Emmert presented a more cheerful picture of American higher recommended improving teacher training and strengthening
education, calling it “one of the great competitive advantages of partnerships with industry.
our nation.” He said maintaining it will require aggressive action
to maintain global competitiveness. Besides education, he
said, “Universities produce two things—smart people and great
Publi c T estim on y
innovative ideas.” Carolyn Hayek, Washington State President, American
Association of University Women: “Research shows two-
Duderstadt: Will the priorities of aging baby boomers—health thirds of all college students are reporting incidents of sexual
care, crime, taxes—mean less public resources for education harassment in their college experience. It appears verbal and
or will they make it a priority once they understand its physical abuses are becoming a way of life on campus.”
importance to their future?
Emmert: It is a juggling act. You have to operate inside Cynthia Johnson, Director, Venture (special needs
political realities. I am disappointed in our baby boomer program), Bellevue Community College: “Postsecondary
generation because we seem to be a little self-centered in the special education echoes civil rights issues in our nation’s past
things we’re investing in. with regard to access and attitudinal barriers. We believe this is
the last bastion of prejudice in higher education.”
Remarks by Mr. Andrew Menter, CEO, Highland
Campus Health Group Jennifer Pae, Vice President, United States Student
Association: “We’re graduating an entire generation of
Menter said dwindling state funding is forcing universities educated youth in debt. Federal grant aid and loans are key
to explore other revenue streams, which may create additional components of financial aid.”
cost and risk. He said student health centers that do not accept
private health insurance create two problems—the students are Tyson Johnston, student, University of Washington: “Higher
paying out-of-pocket for ancillary charges and the services are education must be accessible to all and the federal government
missing out on significant revenue streams by not billing for office must take a larger role. Larger means grant aid must be
visits. He recommended creating policies that make it worthwhile expanded.”
to partner with higher education.
Melissa Aar, student, University of Washington: “The burden
Remarks by Dr. Richard Anderson, Computer to cover the cost of education is increasingly being left up to
Science & Engineering, University students . . . it is time the federal government steps up and meets
of Washington that effort.”

Anderson explained the “tremendous potential” of applied Garrett Havens, student, Eastern Washington University:
technology to the classroom. He cited the following examples: The number of hours students are working is not conducive to a
The Tutored Video Instruction, which facilitates discussion with proper and healthy education . . . (expanding) federal grants is a
pre-recorded, archival material, and Digital Study Hall, which necessary component to addressing this concern.”
uses low-cost digital technology to show educational content.
Anderson’s current project uses networked devices such as Kathryn Gymann, student, Lane Community College:
PDAs and laptops to enhance traditional instruction. “Student aid is evaporating before our eyes. We can protect our
education by investing more grant and aid and cheaper loans for
Vedder: Will the higher education community, with its lack of college students.”
incentive to change, utilize technology?