Welcome

In September 2006, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced her strategy to improve the U.S. higher education system. This plan, based on the recommendations in the final report of her Commission on the Future of Higher Education, was designed to help keep America competitive and provide students and families with more information and more affordable access to higher education. During this announcement, she described bringing the “many sectors together to discuss the full scale of Commission recommendations, our progress, and specific responsibilities and actions going forward."

To continue the conversation, a national summit was held in March 2007. This Summit, "A Test of Leadership - Committing to Advance Postsecondary Education for all Americans," was designed to focus on galvanizing action and distributing leadership and accountability across all sectors. From this gathering, a diverse selection of leaders developed more than 25 recommendations around the following five topic areas:

• Aligning K-12 and higher education expectations
• Increasing need-based aid
• Using accreditation to support and emphasize student learning outcomes
• Serving adults and other non-traditional students
• Expanding affordability through increased transparency of costs

Now, the next crucial step is to now build a groundswell of momentum and localize these transformational initiatives. To achieve that, regional summits will be held in June 2007 in the following cities: Kansas City, Seattle, Phoenix, Boston, and Atlanta. Business, academic, philanthropic, and government leaders from local communities will be invited to discuss how to move this agenda forward.

During these meetings, Under Secretary Sara Martinez Tucker will also meet with local high school and college students as well as host a town hall meeting to discuss issues related to accessibility, affordability, and accountability in higher education.

This site is designed specifically for the Phoenix Summit being held on June 12, 2007.

This is an invitation-only event. If your name is not on the invitation list, your registration will be removed.

Space is limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-served bases. Registration for this event closes on May 25th. Use the menu on the right to register and obtain additional information.

Click here to contact us with any questions regarding the Phoenix Summit.