The WICHE Commission’s May meeting in Las Vegas focused on some of the most critical topics in higher education today. The first plenary session honed in on “eScience,” with the University of Washington’s Ed Lazowska, the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair of Computer Science & Engineering, reporting on this new form of computational science, which marries leading-edge techniques such as data mining and machine learning with new technologies like next-generation broadband networking and cloud computing (see an earlier eScience presentation by Lazowska for more details). In another session, student financial assistance was the timely topic: speakers Sandy Baum, Skidmore College economics professor and College Board senior policy analyst, and Spencer Foundation President Michael McPherson reported on the work of the Rethinking Student Aid study group, a foundation-funded effort under the auspices of the College Board that recently released proposals for reforming the federal student aid system. Two other plenary sessions looked at the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with Paul Lingenfelter, president of the State Higher Education Executive Officers, and WICHE President David Longanecker discussing how the act may affect the nation and the West.

July 2009  | Share this on Twitter | Post this on Facebook