January 26-28, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA)

180 strong, gathered in Los Angeles, California, January 26-28, 2011 for deep discussion about creative and positive change in college admissions. The participants and speakers included chief admission and enrollment officers, higher education scholars, college counselors, NGO leaders, college presidents, foundation representatives, members of the media, and government officials.  Speakers and participants spoke freely and passionately as they identified reasons why change is needed and as they wrestled with what those changes should be and how they should be implemented.

Agenda and Presentations

CERPP Conference 2011 Program

All available presentations are linked to as PDFs.

Conference: Day 1 (January 26)

• Opening Address. College Admissions: Do We Do What We Say We Do?
  • Andrew Delbanco, Columbia University

Conference: Day 2 (January 27)

• Keynote Address. Defining Our Collective Charge
  • Robert Zemsky, University of Pennsylvania
• Session 1. The Case for Change from the Perspectives of Educational Scholars: What We Do, Why, and With What Results
  • Joseph Soares, Wake Forest University (What: Assessment/testing issues)
  • Susan Dynarski, University of Michigan (What: Strategic use of aid)
  • Bill Tierney, University of Southern California (Why: A system motivated by pursuits of prestige, status, and rank)
  • Anthony Carnevale, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (Results: Outcomes of an admissions system built around pursuits of prestige, status, and rank)
• Keynote Address. The Social Purpose of Sorting: An Economic Case
  • Michael McPherson, Spencer Foundation
  • Sandy Baum, Skidmore College
• Master Class. Ethical Exigencies and Opportunities: The Space for Moral Action
  • Harry Brighouse, University of Wisconsin
• Idea Harvesting Session
  • Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale University (Moderator)
•  Keynote Address. Why America Cannot Wait for Change in College Admissions
  • Roberto Rodriguez, White House Education Advisor

Conference: Day 3 (January 28)

• Session 2. Laying the Framework for Change in College Admissions: The Perspective of Enrollment Professionals
  • Philip Ballinger, University of Washington
  • Bill Fitzsimmons, Harvard University
  • Arlene Wesley Cash, Spelman College
  • Susan Wilbur, University of California
• Session 3. Laying the Framework for Change in College Admissions: Individual, Collective, Legal and Leadership Considerations
  • Joyce Smith, NACAC
  • Matthew Reed, The Institute for College Access & Success
  • Art Coleman, EducationCounsel
  • John Slaughter, President Emeritus, Occidental College and the University of Maryland
• Closing Remarks and Summary. Next Steps in Developing an Action Plan for Change
  • Jerome A. Lucido, USC
  • Lloyd Thacker, Education Conservancy

Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors whose generosity made The Case for Change in College Admissions possible:

• The College Board
• Lumina Foundation
• Spencer Foundation
• USC Rossier School of Education