VIDEO: HBCU Administrators Discuss highlights from APLU's Student Success Summit

IN THIS VIDEO: Attendees of the 2014 HBCU Student Success Summit discuss the impact of the conference and the ideas they are taking back to their campuses to improve student retention outcomes. Sponsored by APLU's Council of 1890 Universities, the event drew more than 225 attendees, including senior level campus administrators and professionals throughout the education community to Atlanta, Ga. June 19-21, 2014. Check out additional content, including videos, photos and presentations by visiting www.aplu.org/2014HBCUSummit.

APLU in the News

 It’s been a busy week of news stories about important issues and initiatives we are focusing on at APLU. From the launch of a new planning grant, to designating an inaugural batch of member universities economic innovation hubs, to announcing the latest Golden Goose Award winners, check out these news links to see APLU in action.

Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities

• Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Texas Tech recognized for innovation, economic impact: School designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University
• The Technician: APLU recognizes NCSU for innovation and development
• Houston Examiner: UH named ‘Innovation & Economic Prosperity University’
• Pittsburgh Business Journal: Pitt named among top U.S. universities for economic development
• Rapid City Journal/Associated Press: South Dakota State University named innovation, economic prosperity univ.
• Triangle Business Journal: NCSU named among top universities for innovation and economic development
• Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Tech Recognized For Innovation and Economic Prosperity by National Organization
• Pittsburgh Business Journal: Pitt named among top U.S. universities for economic development
• Daily Toreador: Tech receives designation

APLU Interns Take On the Supreme Court

By Claire Stieg
2014 APLU Summer Intern for Congressional & Governmental Affairs

(L to R) Olivia Nouaihetas-Baneth; APLU Senior Counsel Jim Turner;
Claire Stieg; Carlos Zelya, Shalin Jyotishi; and
APLU Vice President John Michael Lee

Early this month, current APLU interns had the opportunity to tour the Supreme Court of the United States. Jim Turner, senior counsel in the Congressional & Governmental Affairs Office, arranged the tour for a group of engineers from the University of Virginia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was kind enough to invite Carlos, Claire, Olivia, and Shalin to join in on the experience!

2014 HBCU Student Success Summit Meeting | June 19, 2014

 

Friday, June 20

8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. PLENARY SESSION IV | HIGH TECH, HIGH TOUCH: TECHNOLOGY, DATA AND INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

10:00 a.m. — 10:15 a.m. Networking Break

11:15 a.m. — 11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

Noon — 1:45 p.m. LUNCHEON | REPOSITIONING HBCUs FOR THE FUTURE:  A CONVERSATION WITH FOUNDATIONS

1:45 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. Networking Break

2:00 p.m. — 5:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Dept. of Ed Delays College Ratings Proposal; APLU Continues to Push Its Alternative Proposal

Georgia Southern University's Class of 2014.
Photo credit: Georgia Southern University
Creative Commons License

Last week the U.S. Department of Education announced a delay in the release of its college ratings proposal, citing ongoing conversations with higher education stakeholders on the scope and design the new federal system will take. The original timeline called for a mid-2014 release, but department officials say sometime this fall is more likely.

“The scope of responses, complexity of the task, and importance of doing this thoughtfully and usefully led us to decide that it is worth taking more time before publishing a proposal for comment,” said Jamienne Studley, deputy under secretary of the U.S. Department of Education in a blog post. “We are continuing conversations with educators, families, leaders and researchers. We are on track to come out with a proposal by this fall and a final version of the new ratings system before the 2015-16 school year.”

While APLU agrees with the administration’s goal of increasing transparency and accountability at higher education institutions, the association is advocating for an alternative it developed to the administration’s ratings plan. APLU supports making essential and accurate information, such as the Student Achievement Measure (SAM), about all higher education institutions widely available to students and their families. In addition, APLU proposes tightening up the Title IV federal student aid eligibility process and measuring institutions, after adjusting for the nature of the student body, against key metrics. These measurements should have real consequences, which would be in keeping with the president’s goals to protect students and better use federal resources.

Back in January the association formally sent its alternative proposal to Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. A month later APLU presented recommendations on providing greater value to students and the public at a symposium on the ratings plan, formally known as the Postsecondary Institution Rating System (PIRS). APLU will use this new delay in the administration’s development of its ratings plan to further push for its alternative proposal.