The National Collaborative for Post-secondary Education Policy will conduct a public forum Thursday, May 20, at the Erickson Alumni Center on West Virginia University’s Evansdale Campus.

The forum is one of eight being held across West Virginia in May as the Collaborative works to identify and solidify support for public policies that can improve the performance of higher education in the state. Collaborative researchers will lead discussions and identify issues of concern in both practice and policy related to higher ed. Anyone can attend.

The project will help West Virginia clarify state goals for higher education, said Higher Education Chancellor J. Michael Mullen.

The project also will help evaluate our current ability to meet those goals, examine our law, policies, governance, practice and customs relating to higher education, and show gaps or barriers in our current conditions or policies that prevent us from meeting our statewide goals,Mullen added.

The May 20 th forum at WVU will be divided up into four discussion sections:

  • K-12: 9-10:30 a.m.
  • Two-year institutions: 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
  • Business, labor and community groups: 1-3:30 p.m.
  • Four-year institutions: 3:30-5 p.m.

Similar forums will be held May 19 at Wheeling Jesuit University and West Virginia State University; May 20 at Marshall University; May 21 at Community and Technical College of Shepherd and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College; May 24 at Beckley Mining Academy; and May 25 at Days Inn , Flatwoods. West Virginia is one of just four states selected to be part of the project.

The Collaborative is a joint project of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and the Education Commission for the States.