Education and the American Future

Call for Proposals: Deadline April 24, 2009

For an increasing number of students, the dream of a college education is slowly fading away. Educators face a crisis that soon will be similar in scope to the one gripping the financial world, and even more threatening to our nation’s long-term well-being. With a new administration in place, there are new opportunities and resources to help keep these college dreams alive.

Are we adequately preparing our students for the 21st century? How can we increase high school graduation and college retention rates in this economically uncertain time and best serve the young and diverse minds in our charge? To address these grave challenges and begin the ambitious but necessary task of transforming education, professionals from schools and colleges need to join forces to explore the opportunities presented by these crises and develop a plan for action.

More than ever before, it’s vital that educators lead the national discussion on how to champion the change we need.

Forum 2009’s Call for Proposals is your chance to organize and lead a thought-provoking discussion on the most pressing concerns facing educators today, including equal access to higher education, student preparation, and advocating for change at the institutional, state, and federal levels.

The Forum Program Planning Committee especially welcomes proposals that address the myriad issues you face daily and that begin to answer questions, such as:

• What must we do to break the barriers to college access and success for all students, including those from low-income backgrounds?
• How can K-12 and higher education administrators collaborate effectively to present a coherent, "systemic" approach to educational choice and opportunity?
• Why has the high-school-to-college transition process become so confusing, and fraught with anxiety? What can counselors do to ameliorate this confusion for
  their students?
• What can be done to address cost, affordability and the availability of financial aid in a time of shrinking financial resources?
• How are changes in the population of college-bound students impacting the admissions process?
• What strategies and practices best support teaching and learning for writing, scientific literacy, global awareness, interdisciplinary studies, and other subjects critical to student success?
• Are we properly supporting the current generation of counseling, aid and admissions professionals? Is the next generation of educators prepared to deal with the changing landscape of their fields?
• How does arts education foster cultural understanding and unleash the creativity needed to tackle the pressing issues that face us today?

As a Forum presenter, you gain the opportunity to:

• Share your knowledge and experience, and gather valuable feedback from peers;
• Receive national attention for your work and your institution’s accomplishments;
• Showcase educational partnerships that promote educational advancement and opportunity; and
• Help shape the agenda of the College Board and the educational community.

Submit your proposal

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