News Update From the Council on Postsecondary Education

COUNCIL NEWS:

Council launches Double the Numbers Plan

The Council unveiled Double the Numbers- Kentucky’s Plan to Increase College Graduates at a special meeting Oct. 17 in Frankfort. Several state leaders, including Senator Jack Westwood, Representative Frank Rasche, and Dave Adkisson, president of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, joined Council Interim President Brad Cowgill and several public university presidents in commemorating the launch of this plan to double the number of Kentuckians with a bachelor’s degree by 2020. The plan explains that increasing bachelor's degrees is the quickest, most direct way for Kentucky to increase its economic prosperity and outlines five statewide strategies to help meet this goal. Photos of the publication launch are available on the Council Web site.

Trusteeship Conference celebrates ten years since House Bill 1, looks to 2020

More than 250 state and postsecondary education leaders convened in Louisville last month for the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Postsecondary Education Trusteeship. This year’s conference focused on Kentucky’s goal to double the number of bachelor’s degree holders in the state by 2020. The opening session of the conference featured the premiere of the “Reflections on Reform: A Ten Year Anniversary” video, followed by a roundtable discussion of state leaders and university presidents, moderated by KET’s Bill Goodman, which focused on the past success and future challenges of postsecondary reform. The conference culminated with a closing luncheon with both 2008 gubernatorial candidates detailing their agendas for postsecondary education.

Forum showcases impact of research in Kentucky

The inaugural 2007 Kentucky Translational Research Forum held Oct. 18 in Louisville showcased how research is improving the lives of Kentuckians. The purpose of the forum, hosted by the University of Louisville and organized by the Council, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, was to highlight current research and encourage expansion of research, technology transfer and entrepreneurial activity within Kentucky’s universities. Vicki Loise, executive director of the Association for University Technology Managers, delivered the keynote speech on “The AUTM Better World Report: University Research Translating into World Impact.” The forum was created at the suggestion of the Council’s Research, Economic Development and Commercialization Policy Group.

Two Kentucky Adult Education Web sites nationally recognized as best practices

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has recognized a new Web site launched by Kentucky Adult Education and the Office of Employment and Training as a model for other states. Now in its second phase, www.e3.ky.gov combines education, employment and economic development information and resources at one easy-to-use Web site. The site recently unveiled a menu of new services including a new employer self-service job portal, labor market information, GED and postsecondary education information. The Kentucky Adult Education Web site was also recognized with a Gold Star Award from the National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium (NAEPDC), presented at its National Training Institute last month in New Mexico. The Gold Star Award is the highest of the three categories of NAEPDC Web awards and is earned by scoring 91–100 percent in three criteria - layout and design, functionality and content.

Statewide summit to focus on teacher preparation

The Council is co-sponsoring, with Kentucky's public postsecondary institutions and the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, the 2007 Teacher Quality Summit Oct. 29-30, 2007 at The Brown Hotel in Louisville. Now in its eighth year, this summit will bring together chief academic officers, deans of arts and sciences and deans of education from public and independent colleges and universities to improve the quality of teacher education in the Commonwealth. This year’s summit will focus on preparing teachers and school leaders to use research-proven best practices to better prepare K-12 students for college and the global workplace.

RESEARCH TOPICS IN EDUCATION:

Innovation America: A Compact for Postsecondary Education

This paper from the National Governors Association focuses on how states can better align postsecondary education with their economic needs.

Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education

The American Council on Education report explores the changing demographics of 55- to 79-year-olds, examines obstacles that prevent their participation in higher education and frames discussion issues designed to shape policies and practices that best serve older adults.

College Access for the Working Poor: Overcoming Burdens to Succeed in Higher Education

This Institute for Higher Education Policy report takes one of the most comprehensive looks to date at the higher education experiences, financial challenges and attendance and completion rates of the working poor.

Do We Really Have a College Access Problem?

This article from the Carnegie Foundation presents different definitions of "college access" and examines the size and nature of the college access problem in the United States.

The AP Program and Student Outcomes: A Summary of Research

This research report from College Board summarizes research conducted on the validity of AP Exam grades for course placement, AP examination participation and student outcomes AP course participation and student outcomes and comparisons of AP students to IB and dual enrollment students.

More Student Success: A Systemic Solution

This publication from the State Higher Education Executive Officers tells how to build a system leading to more student success beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school and postsecondary education. It identifies the key elements, describes effective practices and shows how they come together to help students and educators succeed.