About Measuring Up: Acknowledgements

The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is grateful to many individuals and organizations for their advice and assistance in the development of Measuring Up 2006. The responsibility for creating, developing, and producing the report card, however, rests entirely with the National Center.

The National Center was advised on the fourth report card on state performance in higher education by an independent review committee, called “Measuring Up 2006” National Advisory Group.

The 2005-06 National Center Associates provided feedback and comment on Measuring Up (see below).

Alan P. Wagner, Professor and Chair, Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, and Comparative and International Education Policy Program, University at Albany, State University of New York completed a special analysis of international indicators on which we relied for the comparative aspects of Measuring Up 2006. His report titled “Measuring Up Internationally: Developing Skills and Knowledge for the Global Knowledge Economy” can be found at www.highereducation.org.

The state higher education executive officers and commissions in each state reviewed the data used for grading in Measuring Up 2006.

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems completed a special analysis of financial aid data from the fifty states. Stacey Zis, research associate, collected and analyzed the data. Dennis P. Jones, president; Patrick Kelly, senior associate; John Clark, data analyst, provided ongoing technical assistance. We offer special thanks to Peter T. Ewell, vice president for the analysis of Learning data for the fifty states.

Kurt M. Landgraf of the Educational Testing Service provided data that made it possible to include Learning measures for all fifty states.

The following individuals assisted with data and methodology: Rolf Blank and Doreen Langesen, Council of Chief State School Officers; Ed Colby and Julie Noble, ACT, Inc.; Arnold Goldstein and Andrew Kolstad, National Center for Education Statistics; Mary A. Miller, Kirk Siegwarth, and Christopher Ward, U.S. Department of Education; Abraham George and Mark Glander, Kforce Government Solutions; Thanos Patelis and Ellen Sawtell, The College Board; David W. Wright, Wichita State University; Thomas G. Mortenson, Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY; Stephanie White, Bureau of Labor Statistics; James N. Willis, Internal Revenue Service; and Laura Greene Knapp, Scott Ginder, and Kelly Close of the Research Triangle Institute.

In addition, Thomas D. Snyder at the National Center for Education Statistics; and Eric Charbonnier and Annette Panzera from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development assisted in international data analysis.

Kathryn Ankrum was managing editor for Measuring Up 2006. Thad Nodine of Nodine Consulting, Rod O’Neal, and Maria Sample assisted with editing. Mae Kaven of The Last Detail, Abigail Stryker, Elizabeth Brodersen, and Billie Sharpe provided proofreading and other editorial services.

Dennis Caldwell, Creative Only, developed the design for the report. Vivien Chow of Chow & Chow Designs, Chris Hoffman of Seminar Graphics, and Kathleen Coles of LWI.COM provided production services. Printing and letter-shop services were provided by Allison Gonzalez and Ross Newport, Community Printers; Yam Tam, Sir Speedy; Leslie Nguyen and Kelly Nguyen-Jardin, Unique Solutions; and Cindy Enos, Golden Graphics. Megan E. McKelvy and Greg Gathman of WebFirst, Inc., and Michael Shannon of NETView Communications provided Web site development and support.

Sheppard Ranbom, Matthew Maurer, and Vanessa Lillie, Communication Works, L.L.C.; and Heather L. Jack, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association advised and assisted the National Center on the communications of Measuring Up 2006.

Frank Bowen provided on-going editorial support of Measuring Up.

At the National Center, Vice President Joni Finney was responsible for leadership and direction of Measuring Up 2006. Mikyung Ryu was lead analyst and project manager for the report card. In addition, Mikyung Ryu wrote state reports and summarized national findings.

Young Kim and Jonathan Felder collected and analyzed data and assisted in the writing of state reports. Debbie Frankle assisted in reviewing data and final documents.

Daphne Borromeo coordinated and implemented the National Center’s communications plan. Jill De Maria led the production, Web development, quality checking, and editorial processes.

Shawn Whiteman led the Web site update for Measuring Up 2006, assisted in production and coordinated the dissemination of the report. Scot T. Zediker and Jeff Knezovich proofread the documents. Noreen Savelle and Valerie Lucas assisted in proofreading, dissemination, and with the release event. Gail Moore and Holly Earlywine supported and assisted with the development of Measuring Up 2006.

Associates of the National Center 2005–2006