Seminar for Higher Education Reporters
November 20-22, 2009
The Sutton Place Hotel
Chicago
Application Deadline: October 9, 2009
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan plans to lay out a new agenda for higher education, at a time when President Barack Obama is challenging the U.S. to increase the number of adults with college degrees to help regain our competitive edge.
All of this comes as colleges are struggling to recover from the economic downturn that has created a boon for community colleges but left state and private schools facing difficult choices, from furloughs to layoffs and tuition increases. What do reporters covering the beat in tough times need to know?
We will discuss the politics of cost cutting in public higher education, how community colleges are dealing with rising enrollments and shrinking resources, innovative colleges that offer a glimpse into the future of postsecondary education and new visions for equity and relevance among selective liberal arts colleges.
We'll also examine the Obama administration’s financial aid agenda and discuss the reporting that broke the story of the University of Illinois admissions scandal.
Tentative Seminar Agenda
Seminar Binder [pdf]
Friday, November 20
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3:00 pm
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Coffee & Seminar Welcome
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3:30
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Post-Secondary Education of the Future:
What Will – and Should – Higher Education Look Like?
Morton Owen Schapiro, Northwestern University
Burck Smith, Straighterline
Bob Mendenhall, Western Governors University
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4:45
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Obama’s Agenda for Higher Education:
A View from the White House
Robert Shireman, U.S. Department of Education
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6:00
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Cocktails and Conversation
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7:30
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The Future of Liberal Arts
Elizabeth Coleman, Bennington College
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Saturday, November 21
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8:30 am
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Continental Breakfast
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9:00
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Recession & Recovery 101: Higher Ed Survival and Strategy Guide
Roger Goodman, Moody’s
Stephen Katsinas, University of Alabama
Larry Isaak, Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Molly Corbett Broad, American Council on Education
Moderated by Scott Jaschik
of Inside Higher Ed
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10:45
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Break
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11:00
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Higher Education and Jobs of the Future: Where and What Will They Be?
Nicole Smith, Georgetown University
Dennis Jones, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)
Moderated by Karin Fischer
of The Chronicle of Higher Education
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12:00 pm
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Lunch
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1:30
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Award-Winning Journalists Offer Tips and Advice on the Higher Education Beat
Scott Jaschik, InsideHigherEd
Jodi Cohen, The Chicago Tribune
Jon Marcus, The Washington Monthly, Freelance
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2:45
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Reporter Roundtables: Group Mentoring/Discussions
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4:30
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Recess for the Evening
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Sunday, November 22
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9:00 am
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Buffet Breakfast
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9:30
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Obstacles to Attainment:
Why College Graduation Rates Are So Low
Michael McPherson, Spencer Foundation
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10:15
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The Future of College Admissions: Will Fairness Matter?
Ted O’Neill, University of Chicago
Lull Mengesha, University of Washington
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11:30
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Seminar Evaluation
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12:00 pm
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Seminar Ends
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Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 12:00PM 
