Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education and USA Funds Present Developing Human Capital: Arizona's Unfinished Business

Developing Human Capital:

Arizona's Unfinished Business

Preliminary Agenda

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Day 1 Thursday, 11/12/09

8:30 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. Commission Chairman's Leadership Breakfast Reception (by invitation)

8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Conference Registration

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Conference Welcome

"Access and Affordability of Postsecondary Education: New Leader, New Commitment" by Robert Shireman, Undersecretary of USDOE

Reaction Panel

11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Breakout 1 "Adult Students: No Longer Non-traditional"

A presentation by Adam Honea PhD, Provost for the University of Phoenix.

Adult learners are a significant and growing component of the $386B postsecondary education industry. In 2008, more than 44% of all students enrolled in higher education were over the age of 24. Enrollment of adult students in degree granting institutions is expected to increase by 19% between 2009 and 2017; almost double the growth of students less than 25 years of age. Learn better ways to serve this population from the largest adult serving university in the world.

Reaction Panel:

Breakout 2 "Assessment: Ensuring that Arizona Students Are Ready for Postsecondary Success"

Debra Raeder, Executive Director of the Governor's P-20 Coordinating Council and Dr. Deb Duvall, Special Advisor to the Governor describe the work of Arizona's Race to the Top Task Force to identify an appropriate college and career readiness assessment tool for evaluation of Arizona students. Critical to the success of such an assessment is engagement of the higher education community. A model for such engagement will be presented.

12:15 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. Lunch on the Veranda

1:10 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. Breakout 3 "To Learn and Earn: Arizona's Unfinished Business in Human Capital: Preliminary Findings and Participant Feedback"

Nancy Welch, Associate Director of the Morrison Institute, and author of To Learn, To Earn: Arizona's Unfinished Business in Human Capital will present preliminary findings of this new report and audience feedback will be sought via interactive audience response. This study is based upon a preliminary report that outlined the status of Arizona's postsecondary education system globally, nationally, and as a state. The second phase of this study is designed to uncover information at the community and family level which will provide policy makers an in-depth, on-the-ground understanding of critical factors affecting the choices of youth and adult workers who could benefit from postsecondary education.

Breakout 4 "Arizona Student Financial Assistance: An Unrealized Policy Lever"

Panelists are engaged in a discussion of existing Arizona financial aid programs and their effectiveness. A brief 5-year review of Arizona state student financial assistance and its outputs will initiate the session. Discussion of the potential benefit of a cohesive policy approach to student financial assistance will involve both a panel and the audience.

Panel

2:10 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Breakout 5 "A Powerful Triad: Arizona's Postsecondary Education System"

Dr. April Osborn, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education facilitates a discussion of the contributions of the public universities, community colleges, and private colleges and universities. Collaborative approaches to achieving Arizona's educational goals are discussed.

Breakout 6 "Making Arizona Higher Education Efficient and Affordable: A Plan for Reform:" A presentation of the plan collaboratively developed to meet the goals of the Lumina Foundation for Education's Making Opportunity Affordable, the Arizona legislature, and Governor Brewer's charge to ABOR. Dr. Karen Nicodemus former President of Cochise Community College and Chair of the Arizona Productivity Imperative presents the proposed Arizona higher education reform plan.

Panel

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. "Achieving Arizona's Big Goal" by Dewayne Matthews, Vice President of Policy and Strategy Lumina Foundation for Education

4:10 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Reaction Panel

4:30 p.m. End of day 1

Day 2, Friday, 11/13/09

7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Conference registration

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. "Honoring Arizona's Outstanding College Access Programs" Breakfast and Awards" Co-sponsored by USA Funds, GEAR UP, and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation

Miss Arizona 2009 Savanna Troupe emcees the Pathways to Higher Education Awards ceremony co-sponsored by USA Funds, GEAR UP, and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation. Outstanding college access programs are honored and awards are presented by Senator John Huppenthal and Representative Rich Crandall.

9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. "Tough Choices or Tough Times: Ramifications of Arizona's Selection as a TCTT state and Effects These Reforms will have on Postsecondary Education" by Marc Tucker Keynote

In 2008, Arizona was selected as a Tough Choices for Tough Times (TCTT) state which included funding for the development of a plan for K-12 reform. As the TCTT steering Committee moves toward its goal it is critical that the effect of these reforms on postsecondary education be examined and discussed.

Reactors include Senator John Huppenthal, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee; Representative Rich Crandall, Chairman of the AZ House of Representatives Education Committee

"Inaugural Session of the Arizona College Access Coalition"

Lisa Budinger, President and CEO of the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, welcomes members and potential members to the Arizona College Access Coalition. Plans for the future and benefits to membership will be discussed.

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Breakout 7 "Looking to 2010 - 2011: The Legislative and Policy Agenda for Postsecondary Education"

Senator John Huppenthal, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee; Representative Rich Crandall, Chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives Education Committee; and Karla Phillips, Education Policy Advisor to Governor Brewer review the improvements in Arizona's education system planned for 2010 and 2011.

Breakout 8 "Tough Choices in Action in Arizona: Developing a Plan that Meets Arizona's Needs"

Presenters: Sybil Francis, Executive Director, Center for the Future of Arizona and Jim Zaharis, Vice President of Education, Greater Phoenix Leadership

The Center for the Future of Arizona is working to advance the notion of establishing seamless and defined pathways to postsecondary education for all of Arizona's children. The Tough Choices initiative is one of these pathways. During this interactive breakout session, participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the Tough Choices initiative, its implications for postsecondary education, and what Tough Choices might look like in Arizona. The session will focus on two primary aspects of the Tough Choices agenda: 1) internationally benchmarked board examination systems that have the potential to facilitate a "move-on-when-ready" approach for high school students and 2) redefining the role of teachers to allow for greater responsibility and authority at the school level coupled with increased accountability. Participants will be encouraged to provide feedback and identify potential barriers and opportunities that should be considered as the plan for Arizona's Tough Choices initiative is refined.

Noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch followed by "The Arizona We Want" presented by Dr. Lattie Coor, President and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona

Conference adjourns

Presented by:
    The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
    USA Funds
    University of Phoenix
    Gear Up Arizona

Additional conference sponsors:

Maricopa Community College District      Harrison Middleton University      Midwestern University      Salt River Project      Greater Phoenix Leadership      ACT Education      Arizona College Access Coalition      Arizona Board of Regents

Day 1 Thursday, 11/12/09
8:30 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.	Commission Chairman's Leadership Breakfast Reception (by invitation)
8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	Conference Registration
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Conference Welcome "Access and Affordability of Postsecondary Education: New Leader, New Commitment" by Robert Shireman, Undersecretary of USDOE Reaction Panel
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.	Breakout 1 "Adult Students: No Longer Non-traditional" A presentation by Adam Honea PhD, Provost for the University of Phoenix. Adult learners are a significant and growing component of the $386B postsecondary education industry. In 2008, more than 44% of all students enrolled in higher education were over the age of 24. Enrollment of adult students in degree granting institutions is expected to increase by 19% between 2009 and 2017; almost double the growth of students less than 25 years of age. Learn better ways to serve this population from the largest adult serving university in the world. Reaction Panel: Breakout 2 "Assessment: Ensuring that Arizona Students Are Ready for Postsecondary Success" Debra Raeder, Executive Director of the Governor's P-20 Coordinating Council and Dr. Deb Duvall, Special Advisor to the Governor describe the work of Arizona's Race to the Top Task Force to identify an appropriate college and career readiness assessment tool for evaluation of Arizona students. Critical to the success of such an assessment is engagement of the higher education community. A model for such engagement will be presented.
12:15 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.	Lunch on the Veranda
1:10 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.	Breakout 3 "To Learn and Earn: Arizona's Unfinished Business in Human Capital: Preliminary Findings and Participant Feedback" Nancy Welch, Associate Director of the Morrison Institute, and author of To Learn, To Earn: Arizona's Unfinished Business in Human Capital will present preliminary findings of this new report and audience feedback will be sought via interactive audience response. This study is based upon a preliminary report that outlined the status of Arizona's postsecondary education system globally, nationally, and as a state. The second phase of this study is designed to uncover information at the community and family level which will provide policy makers an in-depth, on-the-ground understanding of critical factors affecting the choices of youth and adult workers who could benefit from postsecondary education. Breakout 4 "Arizona Student Financial Assistance: An Unrealized Policy Lever" Panelists are engaged in a discussion of existing Arizona financial aid programs and their effectiveness. A brief 5-year review of Arizona state student financial assistance and its outputs will initiate the session. Discussion of the potential benefit of a cohesive policy approach to student financial assistance will involve both a panel and the audience. Panel
2:10 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.	Breakout 5 "A Powerful Triad: Arizona's Postsecondary Education System" Dr. April Osborn, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education facilitates a discussion of the contributions of the public universities, community colleges, and private colleges and universities. Collaborative approaches to achieving Arizona's educational goals are discussed. Breakout 6 "Making Arizona Higher Education Efficient and Affordable: A Plan for Reform:" A presentation of the plan collaboratively developed to meet the goals of the Lumina Foundation for Education's Making Opportunity Affordable, the Arizona legislature, and Governor Brewer's charge to ABOR. Dr. Karen Nicodemus former President of Cochise Community College and Chair of the Arizona Productivity Imperative presents the proposed Arizona higher education reform plan. Panel
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Break
3:30 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.	"Achieving Arizona's Big Goal" by Dewayne Matthews, Vice President of Policy and Strategy Lumina Foundation for Education
4:10 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Reaction Panel
4:30 p.m.	End of day 1
Day 2, Friday, 11/13/09
7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	Conference registration
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	"Honoring Arizona's Outstanding College Access Programs" Breakfast and Awards" Co-sponsored by USA Funds, GEAR UP, and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation Miss Arizona 2009 Savanna Troupe emcees the Pathways to Higher Education Awards ceremony co-sponsored by USA Funds, GEAR UP, and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation. Outstanding college access programs are honored and awards are presented by Senator John Huppenthal and Representative Rich Crandall.
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	"Tough Choices or Tough Times: Ramifications of Arizona's Selection as a TCTT state and Effects These Reforms will have on Postsecondary Education" by Marc Tucker Keynote In 2008, Arizona was selected as a Tough Choices for Tough Times (TCTT) state which included funding for the development of a plan for K-12 reform. As the TCTT steering Committee moves toward its goal it is critical that the effect of these reforms on postsecondary education be examined and discussed. Reactors include Senator John Huppenthal, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee; Representative Rich Crandall, Chairman of the AZ House of Representatives Education Committee "Inaugural Session of the Arizona College Access Coalition" Lisa Budinger, President and CEO of the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, welcomes members and potential members to the Arizona College Access Coalition. Plans for the future and benefits to membership will be discussed.
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Breakout 7 "Looking to 2010 - 2011: The Legislative and Policy Agenda for Postsecondary Education" Senator John Huppenthal, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee; Representative Rich Crandall, Chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives Education Committee; and Karla Phillips, Education Policy Advisor to Governor Brewer review the improvements in Arizona's education system planned for 2010 and 2011. Breakout 8 "Tough Choices in Action in Arizona: Developing a Plan that Meets Arizona's Needs" Presenters: Sybil Francis, Executive Director, Center for the Future of Arizona and Jim Zaharis, Vice President of Education, Greater Phoenix Leadership The Center for the Future of Arizona is working to advance the notion of establishing seamless and defined pathways to postsecondary education for all of Arizona's children. The Tough Choices initiative is one of these pathways. During this interactive breakout session, participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the Tough Choices initiative, its implications for postsecondary education, and what Tough Choices might look like in Arizona. The session will focus on two primary aspects of the Tough Choices agenda: 1) internationally benchmarked board examination systems that have the potential to facilitate a "move-on-when-ready" approach for high school students and 2) redefining the role of teachers to allow for greater responsibility and authority at the school level coupled with increased accountability. Participants will be encouraged to provide feedback and identify potential barriers and opportunities that should be considered as the plan for Arizona's Tough Choices initiative is refined.
Noon - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch followed by "The Arizona We Want" presented by Dr. Lattie Coor, President and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona Conference adjourns

	Presented by: The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education USA Funds University of Phoenix Gear Up Arizona
Additional conference sponsors: