Conference Schedule

Thursday, September 18

9:00–10:30 AM

Opening Session: The Value of Higher Education—And How to Further Strengthen It

This session examined the most recent research on the economic returns to a variety of pathways through college—including differences between programs, degree types, and transfer choices—and discussed ongoing work to strengthen high-return pathways for students.

Speakers: Thomas Brock, Commissioner, National Center for Education Research; Jamienne Studley, Deputy Under Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education; Eva Sage-Gavin, Vice Chair, Skills for America’s Future Advisory Board; Thomas Bailey, Director, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

11:00 AM–12:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

12:30–1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30–3:00 PM

Plenary Session: College Accountability for Labor Market Outcomes

Speakers addressed issues pertaining to performance funding systems that use, or plan to use, labor market outcomes as a measure of performance.

Speakers: Kevin Carey, New America Foundation; Michael L. Reeser, Texas State Technical College System; Mark S. Schneider, American Institutes for Research; David Deming, Harvard University and CAPSEE

Discussant: Judith Scott-Clayton, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

3:30–5:00 PM

Breakout Sessions

5:30–7:00 PM

Reception

Friday, September 19

9:00–10:30 AM

Plenary Session: Affordability: Balancing College, Employment, and Finances

This session examined whether students can afford to make a short-term investment in a college education in order to obtain a long-term labor market payoff. How do students currently attempt to balance these considerations, and how do their choices impact their college completion and labor market earnings? What role can policy play in making it easier for students to afford college?

Speakers: Sandy Baum, The Urban Institute; Judith Scott-Clayton, CAPSEE & Community College Research Center; Karen A. Stout, Montgomery County Community College; Richard D. Kahlenberg, The Century Foundation

Discussant: Brian Jacob, University of Michigan and CAPSEE

11:00 AM–12:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

12:30–2:30 PM

Lunch and Plenary Session: The Nexus of Research and Policy

In this session, panelists discussed barriers to conducting research on postsecondary labor market outcomes in ways that can inform policymaking, including how research findings can be translated into effective policy.

Speakers: Anthony P. Carnevale, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce; Jack Buckley, College Board; David A. Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; Nate Johnson, Postsecondary Analytics

Discussant: Thomas Bailey, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE