On Friday, Nov. 15, Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will host the third of four open forums being held in November to gather public input on the administration's proposals to address college value and affordability. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin will give opening remarks at the day-long forum.
Announced last August by President Obama, the proposal includes developing a college rating system that provides useful information for students to compare and select colleges, while also encouraging institutions to improve. The forums are an opportunity for members of the public to provide feedback on the Education Department’s proposal – especially the rating system — and to hear additional ideas for promoting college access, affordability, and outcomes.
The forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST and is open to the public. In addition to the forum, Kanter and Harkin will host a student roundtable about what is most important from their perspective in developing the college rating system.
Individuals interested in presenting comments or feedback at the open forum should register by e-mailing [email protected], with the subject line "Open Forum Registration." Walk-in testimony will also be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Time slots remain available.
For those unable to attend the forums in person, their ideas may also be submitted online, by sending an e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to the U.S. Department of Education headquarters in Washington. Transcripts from the open forums will be made available on the Department's college affordability Web site, www.ed.gov/college-affordability, shortly after each event. More information on the President's plan to improve college value and affordability is available on this site, as well as additional details on upcoming open forums, town hall meetings, and roundtable discussions across the country.