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More information about:
The CRI: An Agenda for Educational Success
The STEM Initiative
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202.367.1189
Newsletter editor
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June/July 2009
News from BHEF
At BHEF's 2009 summer meeting (June 15-16, 2009), members discussed the alignment between BHEF's agenda with that of the Obama administration. The new administration was well represented at the meeting, with John Holdren, science advisor to the president, Martha Kanter, under secretary of education, and Robert Shireman, deputy under secretary of education addressing members throughout the plenary sessions. Special emphasis was placed on the spirit of collaboration between government, non-profit, and educational institutions. Other speakers included Hilary Pennington, director of special initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Congressman Bart Gordon (D-Tennessee), chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee. The member discussion following these presentations identified the following key components for a BHEF advocacy strategy:
- Shape and support the President’s education priorities, including the Race to the Top, Innovation, and Access and Completion funds;
- Advance the movement toward common state college- and work-ready standards, and emphasize the importance of math and science standards;
- Support increased coordination and increased funding of STEM education; and,
- Advocate for increased funding of R&D, by supporting President Obama’s goal to invest more than three percent of the nation’s economic output in scientific innovation, and advocating for full funding of the America Competes Act.
Members agreed that BHEF will communicate with key members of Congress and the Obama Administration to express our support and work with other organizations to advance this agenda. Since the meeting BHEF staff have already met with congressional and department of education staff to share with them our agenda.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation invited BHEF and its partners at Raytheon and Ohio State to present the U.S. STEM Education Model to the foundation's entire U.S. program staff, who is considering ways that they can utilize the model in their own research and grant making activities.The presentation marked a significant milestone in BHEF's relationship with the Gates Foundation.
BHEF officially launched the U.S. STEM Education Model on July 8, 2009.The event was held at the Newseum in Washington, DC and attracted over 100 attendees, including the media. During the event, Raytheon gifted the model to BHEF. In addition, the model was formally released into open source, representing a major milestone and signaling the next phase of the STEM Initiative. Our work following this launch will have two strands: first, engaging the research, policy-making, and advocacy communities to demonstrate the model and encourage its use; and, second, to begin enhancing the current model and developing next generation models. For more information, meeting materials, and video from the launch, visit the SRMN Web site.
This month’s Advocacy Update includes information on President Obama’s recently unveiled Community College Plan, simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and STEM education legislation. Read more about these advocacy items here.
Member News
On May 15, 2009, BHEF Chairman and President of Cornell University David Skorton was appointed to chair the the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. Created by Governor Paterson, the task force brings together New York state leaders in industry and higher education to generate ideas to diversify the state's economy through industry-higher education partnerships.
Jeffrey Wadsworth, president and CEO of Battelle Memorial Institute, joined Achieve's board of directors. Achieve is a DC-based nonprofit that promotes education reform and raising national academic standards. Jeff joins another BHEF member on the Achieve board: Ed Rust, CEO of State Farm.
BHEF is pleased to welcome the following members to our organization:
- Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor, University of Texas System. Based in Austin, Texas, the UT System is comprised of 15 educational institutions, and serves a student body of over 190,000.
- Ron Lang, CEO, SunGard Higher Education. SunGard Higher Education provides software, resources, and support to 10 million students in 1600 colleges and universities worldwide.
- John Veihmeyer, CEO and deputy chairman, KPMG LLP. One of the "big four" auditors, KPMG provides professional services on a global scale, serving businesses and institutions in over 150 countries.
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