Business-Higher Education Forum Attends Signing of Formal Commitment to Improve Education in Louisville

Joint Commitment document is the culmination of business and community leaders, civic government, and educators working together

Louisville, KY (May 13, 2010) — Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) Executive Director Brian K. Fitzgerald and BHEF Director of Programs Jeanne Contardo today attended the high-profile signing of the "The Greater Louisville Education Commitment"—an endeavor that represents the culmination of BHEF's efforts to help shape a comprehensive strategy to increase the region's college degree attainment rates.

Louisville’s Business Leaders for Education (BLE) forum, chaired by BHEF College Readiness, Access, and Success Initiative (CRI) Working Group Chairman  David A. Jones, Jr., chairman of Humana, Inc.,  recently joined forces with the Mayor's Education Roundtable—a group of educators, business and community leaders, and civic government—to commit to improving education outcomes. All 24 members of the Mayor's Education Roundtable signed the Joint Commitment document that has been reviewed and endorsed by constituencies across the community, including the Jefferson County Board of Education and the boards of trustees of our local colleges and universities, at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

"Due to the hard work and dedication of BHEF and its CRI Working Group led by David, Louisville has become a model for the nation on how to create lasting partnerships that improve education outcomes," says Fitzgerald.

The commitment focuses on creating a college-bound culture and infrastructure. The pact's goals include boosting the number of Louisville area residents with a bachelor's degree to at least 40 percent and those with an associate's degree to at least 10 percent. The plan calls for achieving this milestone by 2020.

Since 2007, BHEF has partnered with its members and the Louisville community to increase the region's college degree attainment rates. Following an initial site visit in November 2007, where BHEF staff met with more than 50 Louisville community members, the organization committed to working with Louisville to improve college enrollment and success, particularly for disadvantaged students. Specifically, BHEF recommended that the BLE Forum lead an effort to determine goals, identify measurable targets toward accomplishing these goals, and develop a plan to improve key educational outcomes in Louisville.

Subsequently, BHEF collaborated with local K-12 education, higher education, business, and foundation and community leaders to draft the Louisville Blueprint for Community Action. This plan outlines five framing goals for regional education improvement and offers accompanying strategies for the community. BHEF continues to offer strategic consultation and national perspective as well as bring the support and expertise of other BHEF members working on similar issues across the nation.