U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell will participate in a panel discussion at the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) National Conference on Trusteeship in National Harbor, Maryland, at 10:30 a.m. ET on Monday, April 18.
Mitchell will discuss the Obama Administration’s ongoing efforts to improve postsecondary access, affordability and outcomes, including degree completion. Over the past seven years, the Administration has reformed the student loan system to improve college affordability, increased Pell funding for students with the greatest need, simplified the process of applying for financial aid, and increased transparency around higher education costs and outcomes to better inform students’ decisions. The Administration will continue working to ensure that the United States again leads the world in college completion and that all students can complete high-quality degrees or post-secondary credentials that do not saddle them with unmanageable debt.
The panel will be moderated by Emily M. Dickens, vice president for public policy and executive director, Center for Public Trusteeship and Governance , AGB. Joining Mitchell as fellow panelists to discuss a range of higher education matters will be Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president, division of government and public affairs, American Council on Education and Cheryl L. Smith, senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, United Negro College Fund.
The AGB annual conference focuses on governance-related questions, higher education trends, and national challenges affecting colleges, universities, and state systems.