State forum on higher education will include Saint Martin's President Douglas Astolfi, Ph.D.

Jan. 13, 2006

Lacey – With the 2006 Washington Legislative Session underway, a public forum – “Challenges to Higher Education” – will take place to bring to the fore budgets, federal cutbacks and other issues affecting higher education in the state of Washington and nationwide. The forum will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the State Capitol Building’s Columbia Room. It will be aired live on TV-Washington, the statewide public affairs channel, and the public is invited take part in the discussion.

Saint Martin’s University President Douglas M. Astolfi, Ph.D., will be one of five college and university presidents taking part in the event. As president of Saint Martin’s, a Catholic, Benedictine university, Astolfi will speak from the perspective of independent colleges and universities statewide.

Other presidents taking part in the forum are Mark Emmert, University of Washington and Lane Rawlins, Washington State University, both of whom will speak from the viewpoint of the state’s two major research institutions; Les Purce, The Evergreen State College, who will represent the state-funded regional institutions; and Ken Minnaert, South Puget Sound Community College, who will represent community colleges.

John Winn Miller, publisher of The Olympian, will serve as moderator. The forum will begin by a short statement from each president, then will be opened to audience questions and comments.

For more information:

Deanna Partlow
Senior editor; media relations coordinator
(360) 438-4541
dpartlow@stmartin.edu