Budget Cuts in Higher Education Force Companies to Scramble

September 5, 2003

“Back-to-campus” MarketTimes webcast will explore key issues affecting firms doing business in the higher education market.

MarketTimes, a web-based information service focused on the postsecondary education market, will explore college stores, budget cuts, and reauthorization in its premier interactive webcast. Scheduled for Tuesday, September 9th, 2003 at 1:00pm EDT, the hour-long MarketTimes webcast will focus on three issues:

Back to Campus/College Stores
Tens of thousands of college students are coming back to campus. What does the retail experience in college stores during fall opening suggest about the economy and the coming year for colleges and the college student market? Panelists:

Kenneth Bowers, UC-Santa Barbara Bookstore and immediate past president, National Association of College Stores (NACS)
Gwen S. Gardner, CSP, Davidson College Bookstore and president, NACS
Laura Nakoneczny, CAE, NACS

Impact of Budget Cuts
They’re here, big time — budget cuts. Across all sectors, campuses are struggling to maintain educational programs and campus services despite reduced resources. What are campus officials saying privately about the impact of budget cuts? What are their campus strategies in these very difficult times? Panelist:

Mark Olson, executive vice president and COO, National Association of College & University Business Officers

Why Care About Reauthorization?
The Higher Education Act is up for reauthorization. The recent No Child Left Behind legislation, focused on K-12 education, seems to cast a large shadow over parts of the higher education bill. What does reauthorization mean for colleges? And why should firms that do business in higher education be concerned about reauthorization? Panelists:

Mark Schneiderman, Director of Educational Policy, Software & Information Industry Association
Leslie Thorton, partner, PattonBoggs, Washington, DC

“We’ve designed this first MarketTimes webcast to address the real needs of companies that do business in higher education,” says program host and Executive Producer Casey Green. “Fall rush is a leading indicator, budget cuts are real, and reauthorization could have major consequences. We’ll address these three issues, and more, in our opening program on September 9th.”

The September program will include segments from featured MarketTimes contributors Anne Keehn (Quantum Insights and formerly Senior VP for business development at SCT); Peter Stokes (Eduventures); and Eric Weil (Student Monitor).

For subscription information and registration, visit the MarketTimes website at www.markettimes.net, write john@learningtimes.net or call John Walber (215) 884-7321.

MarketTimes is produced by LearningTimes,LLC & The Campus Computing Project.