(March 4,  2011) – Lone Star College System – nationally-recognized for its partnerships with four-year institutions and innovative approaches to learning – has been selected to host an U.S. Department of Education community college regional summit on March 9 at LSC-University Park.

Four regional summits are being held nationwide to identify promising practices for increasing completion and student success at community colleges.

“Lone Star College is honored to be chosen to host one of only four regional summits and contribute to the ongoing national dialogue of college completion,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, chancellor of the Lone Star College System.  “The topics being covered at the summits are vital to help ensure that we can continue to produce an educated and highly-skilled workforce.

“Community colleges like Lone Star College are key drivers helping to revitalize the nation’s economy and reach President Obama’s 2020 Goal for the United States to once again have the highest college attainment rate in the world,” said Carpenter.

The summit being convened at Lone Star College-University Park will bring together 150 participants from a 10-state region.

Representatives from community colleges, business and industry, philanthropy, labor, state and local government, and students will explore successful strategies that work to help students succeed.

Department of Education Under Secretary Dr. Martha Kanter will provide opening remarks.

The four national summits, titled "Challenges, Solutions, and Commitments," continue the discussion that began in October with the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges. Dr. Jill Biden convened the first summit at the request of the president to highlight the importance of community colleges.

"These regional summits are an opportunity to build partnerships that strengthen our community colleges, turn challenges into actions, and produce the best-educated and most-competitive workforce in the world," said Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education.

Each of the four summits has a different focus and will be held at a community college in a different part of the country:

·         Feb. 28 – The first summit was held at Community College of Philadelphia: "Transitioning Adult Learners to Community Colleges and the Workforce."

·         March 9 – Lone Star College System, LSC-University Park: "Exemplary Transfer Practices.”

·         March 23 – Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis: "Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Employers."

·         April 15 – San Diego Community College District, San Diego: "Exemplary Programs for Veterans, Military Members, and Families."

With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for spring 2011, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

                                                             ###