U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will share her views on the importance of higher education with the Southwestern Illinois College class of 2011 at the college's commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 19. Kanter will address about 250 graduates at 7 p.m. on the school's campus in Belleville, Ill.
Kanter, a former community college president and chancellor, oversees a variety of postsecondary education policies and programs, including the Department's initiatives to increase college affordability. Her remarks will highlight the value of community colleges and the important role they play in boosting college completion.