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Forum 2007

Setting the Agenda for Education

Hilton New York, New York City
October 24-27, 2007

Forum 2007 was an unparalleled opportunity to discuss important issues affecting education. Professionals from schools and colleges across the nation and around the world gathered for professional enrichment and to share ideas with a wide range of peers, from superintendents, teachers, and counselors, to presidents, faculty, and admissions and financial aid officers.

The discussions at the conference sought to ensure that improving the education of all students is a national priority in light of the upcoming 2008 presidential election.  Plenary speeches and other sessions examined the most pressing concerns on the state and federal levels, including advocacy, access to higher education, and student preparation, and began to answer the following questions:

  • Advocacy: What are the critical messages we must deliver to help policy-makers set the nation's priorities and support and strengthen the education system?
  • Access: How can we expand higher education opportunities for all students? What changes must occur in secondary and postsecondary institutions to adapt to a challenging environment?
  • Preparation: What skills must students learn, and what knowledge must students develop to succeed in college and become productive members of our twenty-first century economy?

Overview of Forum Days

Wednesday, October 24
8:30 AM Pre-Conference Workshops and Meetings
2:30 PM Breakout Sessions
Thursday, October 25
7:30 AM Regional Breakfasts
8:45 AM Breakout Sessions
11:45 AM

Opening Luncheon

  • Bob Costas, World-renowned sportscaster and best-selling author
  • Susan Hockfield, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1:45 PM Breakout Sessions and Assemblies
4:45 PM

Plenary Session

  • Gerald McElvy,  President of the ExxonMobil Foundation
  • Sara Martinez Tucker,  Under Secretary for Education
  • Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, Task Force Co-Chair and Vice Chair, Board of Trustees of the College Board
  • Steven E. Brooks, Task Force Co-Chair and Executive Director, North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Friday, October 26
7:45 AM

Plenary Breakfast

  • Joel Klein, Chancellor, New York City Department of Education
  • Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor, City University of New York, NY
9:30 AM Breakout Sessions and Assemblies
12:30 PM

Plenary Luncheon

  • Erskine Bowles, President, University of North Carolina system
2:30 PM College Fair / Classroom Roundtables
3:45 PM Breakout Sessions
6:30 PM Evening Event at the New York Public Library
Saturday, October 27
7:15 AM

Annual Meeting and Inspiration Awards Breakfast

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium and host of "NOVA scienceNOW" on PBS
10:15 AM Breakout Sessions and AP Workshops
1:00 PM Post-Conference Workshops and Meetings

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