Live Video Webcast
Originally Broadcast Live on November 30, 2000

San Jose, CA, and Washington, D.C. - On November 30, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education will release Measuring Up 2000, the first report card measuring state performance in higher education. States will be evaluated using "A" through "F" grades in five key areas of higher education performance: preparation, participation, affordability, completion, and benefits.

"Measuring Up 2000 will give the American public, policy leaders and the higher education community a clear picture of Americans' real opportunities for education and training beyond high school," said North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., chair of the National Center's Board of Directors.

The report card will grade the states-rather than specific colleges or universities-because providing opportunities for college education is a responsibility of state government. The 188-page report will also feature an overview of national findings, brief "states-at-a-glance" comparisons, and comprehensive profiles of each state.

Measuring Up 2000 will be released Thursday, Nov. 30. The report is embargoed until 10:30 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. All times listed below are Eastern.

Release, 10:30 a.m.: Measuring Up 2000 will be released at a special meeting of the National Center's board and key advisors at the National Press Club, 14th and F Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. The event will feature short panel presentations from national policy and business leaders, with media availability. Participants will include, among others: Gov. Hunt (D-NC); Roger Enrico, chair and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.; Jim Edgar, former governor of Illinois; Garrey Carruthers, former governor of New Mexico; Thomas Tierney, director, Bain and Company, Inc.; Patrick Callan, president of the National Center.

Live Webcast of Release, 10:30 a.m.: Members of the press and the public outside the Washington area will be able to view the report card release via a live web cast (also accessible after the event) on the National Center's web site at http://www.highereducation.org/.

Video News Release: A video news release, available via satellite at 2:30 p.m., will provide television networks and affiliates with a 90-second national video and B-roll, as well as a 15-second soundbite for each state's findings. For satellite coordinates, please call Loren Checchi at 800-766-1711, ext. 215. After Nov. 30, the VNR can be viewed by visiting the multimedia gallery page at http://www.dwjtv.com/.

Audio News Release: An audio news release will be available on Nov. 30 and will provide radio stations with actualities about the overall national findings and your state findings. For information about accessing the audio news release, call Loren Checchi at 800-766-1711, ext. 215. After Nov. 30, the ANR can be heard by visiting the multimedia gallery page at http://www.dwjtv.com/.

Online Access, 10:30 a.m.: Measuring Up 2000 and supporting documents will be available on the National Center's web site: http://www.highereducation.org/.

Established in 1998, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting Americans' opportunities to pursue and achieve quality higher education. The National Center is not associated with any institution of higher education, with any political party, or with any government agency. It receives continuing, core financial support from a consortium of national foundations that includes The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Ford Foundation.

Measuring Up 2000 was funded through grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The Pew Charitable Trusts.