In 2005, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings appointed a panel of academics, higher education administrators, and business leaders to assess the state of higher education and recommend reforms. The commission released its final report in the fall of 2006, calling for greater accountability from colleges and universities, expressing concern...

Proposals for reforming the higher education accreditation system have ignited a firestorm of controversy this year. While Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and the recent Commission on the Future of Higher Education have both recommended changes to the current accreditation process, others in the higher education community feel that the...

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and others on what's wrong with higher education today--and how to fix it.

Please note this event will take place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20062

Commissioned by the US Chamber's National Chamber Foundation, the report details how the American business community can use its credibility, political heft, and role as the employer of America's science, technology, engineering, and math talent to apply innovative thinking and actions to areas such as academic standards, human capital, and new school models.

Leading higher education researchers and practitioners will present their findings explore the findings’ implications for designing and implementing effective accountability systems for higher education.

Campus controversies in the last few years have gained national attention. In 2005, American University president Benjamin Ladner resigned amid accusations that he had misused university funds for personal expenses. In 2006, Dartmouth College alumni voted overwhelmingly against changes to their historically significant role in governance--but the following year, the...