WICHE: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Thursday, September 22, 2005

6.00 pm – 7.00 pm

Reception

7.00 pm – 8.30 pm

Dinner and Welcoming Remarks

Cheryl Blanco, Senior Program Director, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Lyn Shanaghy, Field Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Michael Enzi, Wyoming

Friday, September 23, 2005

8.15 – 8.30 am

Welcome and Introductions

David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Tom Rudin, Vice President, Government Relations and Development, The College Board

8.30 – 9.00 am

Setting the Context: Data and Policy

Academic preparation is the key to a successful college experience, yet too often, rural and economically disadvantaged students are not adequately prepared for the challenges that they face in postsecondary education. They confront a unique set of circumstances and frequently require additional support. This session will set the context for the conference by presenting the data regarding these important topics and the related state policy issues.

David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

9.00 – 10:15 am

State Strategies and Challenges: Using Technology to Enhance the Preparation of Rural Students

One effective strategy for serving rural and economically disadvantaged students is to use various forms of technology to bring an academically rigorous curriculum to students. Hear directly from conference participants about innovative state approaches that they use to provide challenging academic opportunities to all students.

Moderator: Alexis King Holmes, Associate Director, Government Relations, The College Board

10.15 – 11.00 am

Understanding the Landscape for Rural Students: A National Overview of State-Level Policy and Practice

In a recent report from the Rural School and Community Trust entitled “Why Rural Matters 2005,” authors Elizabeth Beeson and Marty Strange note that, while rural education is somewhat less marginalized today, our society does not often talk or think seriously about rural education as a public policy issue. In this session, Mr. Strange will summarize findings from this state-level study and the major issues that emerged.

Marty Strange, Policy Director, Rural School and Community Trust

11.00 – 11.30 am

What Have We Learned? An Open Discussion

This is an opportunity for participants to engage in an open discussion about what they have learned at the conference up to this point.

Moderator: Demarée K. Michelau, Project Coordinator, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

12.30 – 1.15 pm

Helping Students Achieve Academic Success through Technology: A Texas Approach

This session probes deeper into one state’s approach to using technology to serve all students. The University of Texas (UT) System TeleCampus is a central support unit that facilitates distance education initiatives within the UT System. Learn about how the TeleCampus is working closely with the Texas Education Agency in its initiative entitled, Every Child, Every Advantage, which assists teachers and students in the public schools by offering TRACK - TAKS Readiness and Core Knowledge, a free online student readiness test and complimentary core study materials in the four subject areas being tested by the 11th grade-level TAKS test.

Michael Anderson, Manager, Course Development and Technology, University of Texas System

1.15 – 2.00 pm

The College Board’s Initiatives for Rural Students

Over the next few years, the College Board will initiate a series of strategies to replicate recent successes in bringing Pre-AP training, PSAT, AP professional development, and other resources to Western rural communities. The aim of the College Board’s rural education plan is to increase its outreach and assistance to rural and small schools in the Western region of the country. During this session, a College Board representative will brief participants on the organization’s rural education plan.

Trevor Packer, Executive Director, Advanced Placement, The College Board

2.00 – 2.45 pm

EduTools: Bridging the Gaps of Geographic and Economic Access

Online Advanced Placement (AP) courses can be an effective way to expand academic opportunities to rural and economically disadvantaged students. Because online AP courses can bridge the gaps of geographic and economic access, interest in these courses has expanded rapidly. Dozens of innovative course products have arrived on the market from commercial vendors and statewide virtual schools, yet deciding which ones are most appropriate and of the highest quality can be a challenging task. This session will demonstrate a web site that provides independent reviews of online AP courses, focusing on content, instructional design, and technical characteristics in an effort to assist states, districts, schools, and students make more informed decisions when selecting AP online courses.

Cheryl Blanco, Senior Program Director, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Russell Poulin, Associate Director, WCET (Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications), Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

2.45 – 3.00 pm

Closing Remarks

Tom Rudin, Vice President, Government Relations and Development, The College Board

David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Partner Organizations

The College Board

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,700 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves over three and a half million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

For further information, please visit www.collegeboard.com.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and its 15 member states work collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all citizens of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy among states and institutions, WICHE strengthens higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life. Our programs – Student Exchange, the Western Cooperative for Education Telecommunications, Policy Analysis & Research, Mental Health, and the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration – are working to find answers to some of the most critical questions facing higher education today. WICHE is the only organization in the West that focuses exclusively on higher education issues, from access and accountability to tuition and fees to distance learning and innovation. Public higher education is the primary backbone of the Western economy, and WICHE’s policy research and collaborative programs support the West’s citizens and its constantly evolving cultures.

For further information, please visit www.wiche.edu.