Research & Collaboration
BHEF conducts research to create solutions that address our nation's most significant education challenges. This research identifies strategies and policy reforms that BHEF and its members advance in conjunction with partners and other organizations. BHEF's recent research has explored the need for enhanced recruitment, retention and renewal of the nation's math and science teaching workforce.
To amplify its impact, BHEF partners with other organizations, where appropriate. BHEF currently collaborates with a number of groups, including the TAP Coalition, Data Quality Campaign, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber, National Governors Association and America's leading universities and foundations, to advance its initiatives.
Current Research Projects
STEM Working Group co-chair and Raytheon Chairman and CEO Bill Swanson commissioned teams of Raytheon engineers to create a tool to help policymakers, educators, and researchers better understand the complex nature of the U.S. education system and identify potential solutions that could help the nation strengthen its leadership in STEM. With the assistance of BHEF and other experts, Raytheon engineers developed a prototype systems dynamics model.
In part of their work, these teams identified a number of promising approaches to test their potential for increasing the number of STEM-capable students and the number of STEM college graduates. In the next phase of the work, Raytheon will partner with BHEF, its members, and others on further model development, testing, refinement and analysis, and transition the model to open source use for the public.
To download a white paper summarizing the model, click here (pdf).
To view a presentation from the recent STEM Research and Modeling Network meeting, click here (ppt).
>>June 26, 2009
Brian Fitzgerald, executive director of BHEF, responds to the Education Department's plans to simplify the financial aid application process. "We are pleased to learn of Secretary Duncan and President Obama's efforts to simplify the process…Too many low-income students do not complete the FAFSA because of the form's complexity, reducing their chances of financial resources that provide access to and help foster success in college." Read the full response on the advocacy page.
>>May 15, 2009
BHEF Chair and President of Cornell University David Skorton was selected to be chairman of the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. Created by Governor Paterson, the task force will bring together New York state leaders in industry and higher education to generate ideas to diversify the state's economy through industry-higher education partnerships. It will study best practices and generate recommendations on fostering business incubation, growth and emerging technology commercialization.