April 2010 Access Update - Regional Meetings
Over 600 Attend NCAN Regional Meetings Nationwide
NCAN recently completed a series of four regional meetings held around the country in Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia that attracted over 600 participants from 256 programs in 32 states. These one-day sessions allowed NCAN to share updates on its new strategic priorities, brief attendees on federal policy initiatives and facilitate workshops on data usage and postsecondary success programs. We were pleased to work with NCAN members and KnowHow2GO (KH2GO) sites that served as our partner organizations for each meeting to ensure that the agendas were responsive to NCAN member interests.
“These regional meetings gave us the opportunity to connect with members to talk about NCAN’s strategic priorities around data and postsecondary success and to continue the local networking for practitioners,” said Kim Cook, NCAN Executive Director. “More importantly, this information empowers members to be advocates for college access and success.”
We began the series in Seattle at the University of Washington with host partners College Success Foundation and KH2GO Washington that launched the newly-formed Washington College Access Network (WCAN). Speakers included a panel of students talking candidly about their experiences in accessing and succeeding in college as well as afternoon breakout sessions on data and success.
Our Chicago meeting was held at University of Illinois - Chicago by the Illinois Student Aid Commission and KH2GO Illinois. Luncheon speaker Ed Pacchetti of the U.S. Department of Education provided a timely and informative summary of the new developments in college access and success legislation, including reauthorization of federal College Access Challenge Grants.
Southern region members joined at Atlanta Metropolitan College for our regional meeting with partner host and NCAN member Project GRAD Atlanta. Participants heard welcome remarks from College President Alan McGaha, panel discussions on student success programs, and a presentation on the “data mindset.”
We wrapped up with a northeastern region meeting at the Community College of Philadelphia with partner hosts NCAN members Graduate Philadelphia and Philadelphia Education Fund. Attendees learned about Philadelphia’s focus on education and college from Lori Schorr, Chief Education Officer for the city of Philadelphia, who spoke about the mayor’s commitment to education and data systems the city has implemented. The following sessions detailed higher education commitments to student success, using data to inform programs and an example of a community-based college success program.