College

U.S. Education Secretary Will Be Among Attendees

March 12, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today that U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will be among those taking part in Pennsylvania’s first statewide conference on higher education.

The Governor’s Conference on Higher Education: Pathways to College Success will be held from March 16 - 18 at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College. The conference will provide a forum for state and national higher education leaders to address the growing crisis in college access, affordability and success.    » read more »

ARMONK, NY - 12 Mar 2009: Amid concerns that the economic downturn could impact their career plans, eight in 10 U.S. college students see a growing need for more IT professionals as technology advances, according to a survey by IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

The survey of more than 1,600 college students reveals that more than 50 percent are seeking to improve their own technology skills before they graduate. Eight in 10 expect to encounter new technology that they will need to learn, adapt to and master once they enter the workforce.

The findings come at a time when nearly one million technology-related jobs are expected to emerge as a result of President Obama's $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- "In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity, it is a pre-requisite. That is why it will be the goal of this Administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career."

- President Barack Obama

Address to Joint Session of Congress, February 24, 2009    » read more »

NEA president welcomes "cradle to career" plan outlined by President Obama

WASHINGTON - March 10, 2009 - President Barack Obama today expanded on earlier remarks about his vision for education in America in the 21st century. His "cradle to career" agenda would expand and improve quality early childhood education; get rid of "off-the-shelf" tests; support teachers through professional development and mentoring; provide resources for reducing dropouts; demand greater accountability for charter schools; support for the inclusion of critical thinking skills in standards, and increase financial aid for college students. President Obama made similar remarks during his historic inaugural address, and, more recently, while addressing a joint session of Congress.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2009) – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-MD), and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today met with Bowie State University students and administrators and other local elected officials to discuss steps they’re taking on the national and state level to make higher education more affordable for American families.    » read more »

March 09, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today approved legislation that will help preserve the Oklahoma State University medical program and the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. Both had been facing an uncertain future because of financial difficulties and other challenges.

House Bill 1127 by House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee appropriates $5 million to the OSU Medical Authority to keep the facility in operation. It is the first installment of five such annual appropriations.

The funding is part of an agreement hammered out last December by Gov. Henry, Speaker Benge, Pro Tem Coffee, OSU officials and Tulsa leaders.    » read more »

March 03, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley is bringing together school superintendents, business leaders, faith-based organizers and Alma J. Powell, the Chair of America’s Promise Alliance, for a Dropout Prevention Summit in Montgomery on Thursday.

The goal of the summit is to develop action plans for improving graduation rates and students’ college readiness. The event will focus on specific steps that can be taken in communities to improve graduation rates. Participants will encourage collaboration between the corporate, non-profit, faith-based, public and education sectors.    » read more »

NEA President Van Roekel applauds renewed national attention on education

WASHINGTON - February 26, 2009 - President Barack Obama's federal budget proposal, released Thursday, calls for important investments in quality public education-from preschool through higher education-to prepare students to compete with 21st century skills. The budget continues the administration's ambitious plans of once again making education a national priority and moving toward the goal of great public schools for every student.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today highlighted provisions of the Department of Education's proposed FY 2010 budget overview that would dramatically expand student financial aid while making it simpler, more reliable and more efficient. "We need to invest in our economic future and enable our kids to compete in today's global environment. America's students and workers need a higher level of education and training," Duncan said.

"President Obama's proposed budget calls for a historic investment to make college more affordable and accessible and to help more students succeed once they get there."    » read more »

Feb. 18, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell’s plan to make college tuition more affordable for every Pennsylvania family earning under $100,000 a year will help more than 170,000 students once in place, while putting a college degree within reach of 10,000 students who otherwise would be unable to afford tuition or might leave the state to attend college.    » read more »

Compact Outlines 12 Environmental Goals for Universities and Community Colleges to Green their Campuses

CHICAGO –February 18, 2009. On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Business Institutional Facility, Governor Pat Quinn joined the University of Illinois President, Chancellor and Trustee Chairman to celebrate the signing of the Sustainable University Compact by all three University of Illinois campuses to green their campuses.

“It is important that we implement a green way of thinking and acting to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Governor Quinn. “I thank the University of Illinois for joining the Sustainable University Compact and helping to green our state.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON - February 05, 2009 - NEA President Dennis Van Roekel and education leaders from across the country today joined Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Americans affected by the worst economic and financial crisis since the Great Depression, in urging the Senate to act quickly to inject much needed funds into the ailing economy, especially the nation's public schools and colleges.

"These are frightening economic times," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "Like millions of Americans around the country, educators and their families are feeling the economic pinch firsthand. This is not a time for partisanship; it is a time for partnership."    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- John McCain says he "believes that meeting the needs of our service members who defend us is our obligation" and is on a "Service to America" campaign tour visiting military bases and colleges while highlighting his own military service. But at the same time, he has yet to support an important initiative in Congress to help service members and veterans pay for college, despite speaking today at the Naval Academy and Pensacola Junior College, two institutes of higher education.

Senator John McCain: Photo by Chris Dunn (CC)    » read more »

Senator to Push New GI Bill that Greatly Expands Financial Education Assistance for Returning Veterans

April 2, 2008 -- Current GI Bill isn't Equipped to Handle Wave of Young Returning Soldiers Leaving them Unable to Meet Rising College Costs Averaging Over $17,000 at a Public Institution in NYS - Only 15% of all those Currently Deployed Hold a Bachelor's Degree; Number of Younger Vets Across Upstate NY is Set to Soar: Currently there are 84,000 Vets in the Capital Region, over 74,000 in CNY, over 14    » read more »

Legislation creates commemorative coin celebrating the progress of the Civil Rights Act

April 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today applauded the House of Representatives' passage of legislation to create a commemorative coin to recognize the landmark strides of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Daniella Zalcman (CC)    » read more »