Washington, D.C. – State college and university presidents will convene next week to consider new approaches for the post-recession era, how to harness the power of technology and opportunities for reinventing their institutions for the 21st century.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will address the general session on the final day of the November 22-24 annual meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in San Antonio, Texas. He will discuss critical issues such as $4 billion in new stimulus bill funding for education and the legislation moving through Congress on student loans and grants.

Other speakers include:

Alan November, who was named one of the nation’s fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Classroom Computer Learning Magazine. His lecture, Rethinking Information and Communication Technologies for Presidents and Chancellors, will offer his perspectives on challenges that modern higher education leaders face regarding student learning. It will also address imperatives for the future as well as observe changes in modern leadership in light of changes in communication and unprecedented challenges.

Joshua Cooper Ramo, Managing Director at Kissinger Associates. Ramo’s most recent book, The Age of the Unthinkable, argues that we are now in the midst of hereto unforeseen change. As Ramo questions conventional thinking, he puts forth a radical new model for thriving in a world of unexpected events.

Diana Oblinger, president and CEO of EDUCAUSE. Oblinger will lead an overview of how technology and new media are driving change in presidential decision-making, transforming teaching and learning, and how information technology can be used to help presidents position their institutions for success.

John C. Hitt, President of the University of Central Florida, will deliver the President-to-Presidents address: Discovering Our Futures: the Power of Partnerships. The presentation will provide insights for developing innovative and mutually beneficial partnerships that are vital to delivering on institutional missions, driving economic growth and fulfilling stewardship roles.

AASCU President Muriel Howard, who was appointed this year, will kickoff the three-day event, which includes the presentation of The Christa McAuliffe Award. The honor recognizes excellence in teacher education by awarding programs that can document the success of their graduates and the pupils they teach. This year’s recipient is the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Other topics for the session include: the legislative and economic outlook, managing the influx of veteran and military students, how to leverage public resources and student perceptions, rethinking information and communication technologies, research agendas and teacher education. For more information on the annual meeting please go to aascu.org. Media wishing to attend Secretary Duncan’s address and Q&A session should contact Susan Chilcott: 703-332-9351 (cell) 202-478-4661 (o) chilcotts@aascu.org 

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AASCU is the leadership association of 430 public colleges and universities Delivering America’s Promise through their common commitments to access, affordability and educational opportunity. Enrolling more than 3 million students, these institutions fulfill the expectations of a public university by working for the public good through education, stewardship and engagement, thereby improving the lives of people in their community, their region and their state.