NEWS RELEASES

April 19, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Higher Education Comes Together for Important Policy Discussion

        Members from all of the major public higher education systems joined with the Arizona Board of Regents April 15 to discuss how the higher education system in Arizona can be transformed to become more focused on the needs of students.

        Members of the Board of Regents, state board for community colleges, and members of the governing boards of the local community colleges, along with university and community college presidents, gathered to hear the presentation by Dr. Alan Guskin, president emeritus of Antioch University in Washington, on learner-centered change.

        Guskin's comments were aimed at transforming colleges and universities in response to pressures for public education to be more efficient, economical and accountable.

        Judy Gignac, Board of Regents president, stated, "We felt it was important as a university system to start this important dialogue with the community colleges and their leadership on the direction of higher education . Our top priorities are to serve students well and be accountable to our funding sources."

        Arizona Association of District Governing Boards Chair Linda Rosenthal called the discussion, "enlightening and substantive. This was a chance to put on the table fundamental issues about our systems that will occupy our time and energies for years to come."

        State Board Director for Community Colleges of Arizona Pat Carlin confirmed that "the community college leaders were pleased to be part of this discussion . We enjoy the opportunity to talk about the future of higher education with the university system leaders and also with someone of the renown and esteem of Dr. Alan Guskin."

        Regent Gignac intends this to be the beginning in a series of discussions and dialogues that bring together leadership from the universities, community colleges and others to plan and envision Arizona's higher education system of the future.

        Guskin was chief executive officer of Antioch University from 1985 to 1997, and has published three articles in CHANGE magazine about the restructuring of colleges and universities.

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