 |
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
Sygielski to represent community colleges at White House
The Advocate
MHCC President John Sygielski is going to the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the first-ever summit for community colleges.
"I expected to be invited since I am the chairman of the board of the American Association of Community Colleges" Sygielski said Thursday. "I am pleased to be able to have a voice for community colleges in general, and for Mt. Hood Community College in particular."
Maggie Huffman, MHCC director of communications, said it's an honor for the president to be able to go the White House. "He's the only person from Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to go," she said.
Topics of discussion at the summit include college completion rates, financial aid issues, innovation, partnerships with businesses, supporting small businesses, and service to military, military families, and veterans, according to Huffman.
"There are some significant benefits to be gained from each of those topics," said Huffman.
Sygielski in an email Thursday, said, "Our agenda is to ensure people in attendance at the summit, including the president and his administration, learn more about the college, many of our highly-acclaimed programs, our goals for the future and our needs to ensure we accomplish those goals.
"The White House is taking this summit very seriously," he said. "For example, summit participants include Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen; Melinda Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others."
"MHCC will become better known for many of its highly acclaimed programs in addition to having an opportunity to meet a variety of business, education and government leaders who we may be able to engage in discussions to learn more about potential resources that could assist us in accomplishing our college's three core themes of teaching and learning, community engagement and resource development," Sygielski said. "Since this opportunity is intended to benefit the College, in general, I do not see it benefiting me, personally."
On Wednesday, students in the Integrated Media Program took advantage of the opportunity to have student voices heard in Washington, D.C., by setting up video equipment in the Main Mall and recording students speaking about their experience at community college in 30 seconds or less.
Students who did not get the opportunity to record their story on Wednesday can submit their own video recording at www.whitehouse.gov/communitycollege and follow the links.
The summit will be Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST and will be simulcast at the above referenced website.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.