UW News

February 23, 2011

Higher education access is topic of ‘community conversation'

A community conversation on the threats to accessible higher education in Washington will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 7, at Cleveland High School, 5511 15th Ave. S. The event is sponsored by the College Promise Coalition.

Panelists will include Brad Smith, an executive at Microsoft and chair of the Higher Education Funding Task Force; David Horsey, columnist and cartoonist for seattlepi.com; Mary Jean Ryan, founder of the Community Center for Education Results; and Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The panel will be moderated by Lori Matsukawa of KING-TV.

The event is part of a statewide effort, coordinated by the Coalition, to encourage public discussion of the challenges facing higher education in light of state budget problems. Similar forums are scheduled to be held in various locations across the state.

The College Promise Coalition is a partnership that brings together students, parents, alumni and advocates for Washingtons colleges and universities, as well as leaders in business and labor, that is working to make higher education in Washington a top priority.