About / May09 / Higher Ed Accountability May 28

May 5, 2009
For immediate release

UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz School’s fourth edition of its Policy Goes to School Series examines the next steps in higher education accountability and features plenary address by UC President Mark Yudof

UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School presents Accountability and Quality in Higher Education: Are They Compatible? on Thursday, May 28, 10 am – 4:30 pm, UCSB Corwin Pavilion. Experts will examine what accountability means in higher education, especially in light of the UC Accountability Framework. Public higher education has long recognized the need to be responsive to its many publics. Except, however, for financial controls, it has not relied on the kinds of formal accountability mechanisms, such as standardized tests, which are common in elementary and secondary education. The challenge for higher education is to show that it is accountable for the outcomes expected by stakeholders without narrowing the curriculum or compromising the educational opportunities and research creativity that have made U.S. universities major engines for economic growth, upward social mobility, and personal development. [See the full agenda.]

The plenary address at the event will be presented by Mark Yudof, President of the University of California. Yudof served as chancellor at the University of Texas from 2002-2008. Before that he was president of the University of Minnesota and was a longtime dean, provost, and faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to serving as UC president, he holds a faculty appointment in the School of Law at UC Berkeley, where he once was a visiting professor. Inside Higher Ed writes, “Few presidents of public research universities have been as clearly associated with the national accountability movement as Mark Yudof, who as head of the University of Texas System helped put in place a broad framework for public reporting about the performance of the university's 15 campuses and health centers.” He will discuss the UC Accountability Framework.

This symposium is the fourth in the Gevirtz School’s “Policy Goes to School Series” that examines how educational research can and should influence policy. The first event, “Promoting Pre-K through Graduate School Educational Success” held on January 11, 2008 was a resounding success. Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23), a panelist at the event, said, “I’m going to go back to Washington and encourage all my colleagues in the House to hold events like this one.”

The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve a space, contact Suzanne Oliver, Gevirtz School Director of Community Relations by May 21 at 805.893.2460 or soliver@education.ucsb.edu

[Suzanne Oliver is available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]
– end –

School-wide Links
Courses Apply	Computing Contact

News

UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz School’s fourth edition of its Policy Goes to School Series examines the next steps in higher education accountability and features plenary address by UC President Mark Yudof