Solutions for ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's Future Releases Listening Tour Report

ADELPHI, Md. (April 4, 2007) - In order to raise public awareness about the social and economic value of higher education, ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's higher education community is participating in the national Solutions for Our Future campaign. During Fall 2006, ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's campaign-called Solutions for ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's Future-conducted a "listening tour" to provide a forum for the business community to address higher education issues with leaders and representatives from the state's public and independent four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, and the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Higher Education Commission. Joining the listening tour initiative was James Fielder, former secretary of the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

The Solutions for ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's Future listening tour marked the first time that ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's higher education sectors as well as the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) and the Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB), collaborated to create a dialogue between higher education and the business community. At each event, business leaders offered their assessments of how higher education can respond to the workforce and economic development needs of their regions.

The following report presents the findings of the statewide listening tour as well as recommendations and action items developed as a result of the discussions.

This report will be reviewed by all those who participated in the listening tours, State officials, business leaders, and the higher education community. The Solutions for ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø's Future steering committee members are responsible for implementing the recommendations.

Click on the link below for a PDF copy of the full report.

Contact: John Buettner
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: jbuettner@usmd.edu