Blue Ribbon Commission for HIGHER Education

Too many Arkansans start college and dont finish. Governor Huckabee says thats not acceptable and neither are the funding problems campuses are facing while trying to deliver programs students want. Thats why hes forming another blue ribbon commission - this time on higher education. Letters were sent out today to 15 people across Arkansas, inviting them to serve on this commission. The governor hopes this group will start meeting in December and be able to present their findings 6 months later. Huckabee wants the commission to examine ways to up college retention and graduation rates, determine why research has not been a focus at state institutions, and look at ways to promote diversity. He admits that the hard work of the last blue ribbon commission was largely overlooked and then repeated by high-priced consultants who came up with many of the same results. He says he cant guarantee what lawmakers will do with the recommendations this new group will have about higher ed, but he says he will not ignore the findings.