What's New this Year
The 2010 conference will focus on how higher education legislative relations and public affairs professionals can facilitate effective government relations in the midst of new funding realities and calls for increasing educational attainment. Emphasizing colleges’ and universities’ catalytic role in driving regional prosperity, the program will feature thought leaders from across the political, policy and higher education spectrum and the exchange of strategies for improving innovation, accountability, affordability, productivity, and state support of higher education.
About the Conference
Now in its 17th year, the Higher Education Government Relations Conference (formerly known as the State Relations Conference) is an educational forum for professionals whose responsibility it is to foster effective governmental and community relations on behalf of public colleges and universities, and state systems of higher education. The conference reflects a unique partnership among four national higher education associations: the American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Government relations staff from these associations, in partnership with the Task Force on Higher Education Government Relations (download pdf), comprised of state government affairs professional representing the entire spectrum of American public postsecondary education, help coordinate the conference.

Schedule at-a-Glance
Wednesday, December 1
4:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. — Programming
6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. — Reception
Thursday, December 2
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. — Programming
Dinner on your own
Friday, December 3
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. — Programming and conference conclusion
| WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1 |
| 4:00 – 4:30 p.m. |
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Conference Opening
Bonnie Slosson, Conference Task Force Chair; Director, Community College League of California
George Boggs, President, American Association of Community Colleges |
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| 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. |
Opening General Session
Aligning Access with Excellence in Partnership with the State
Francisco Cigarroa, Chancellor, University of Texas System
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5:15 – 6:15 p.m. |
Plenary Session
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| 6:45 – 7:45 p.m. |
Reception at the Texas State Capitol Building
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| THURSDAY, DEC. 2 |
| 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast with Affinity Groups |
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. |
Plenary Session
Advancing on Evidence-based Policy and Advocacy Agenda
Raymund Paredes, Commissioner of Higher Education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| 9:30 – 10:40 a.m. |
Plenary Session
Increasing Productivity and Educational Attainment in Fiscally Challenging Times — Lessons from One State’s Success
Kristin Conklin, Partner, HCM Strategists
Jon Marcus, Education Writer, Times of Higher Education Magazine
Patrick J. “P. J.” Hogan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, University System of Maryland.
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| 10:50 – Noon |
Plenary Session
The Pursuit of Efficiency and Effectiveness Through Greater Autonomy: Insights from 2010 State Actions
Edward Hammond, President, Fort Hays State University
Michael Klein, Director, Government and Legal Affairs, New Jersey Association of State Colleges and
Universities
Michael Trunzo, Vice Chancellor for Government Relations, State University of New York
Cristin Toutsi, Assistant for Policy Analysis, Association of Governing Boards of
Universities and Colleges
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| noon – 1:30 p.m. |
Higher Education State Relations Awards Luncheon
Program Recognition of the Edward Crawford Award for Innovation in State Relations and the Marvin D. "Swede" Johnson Achievement Award.
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| 1:40 – 2:50 p.m. |
Concurrent Session (Two)
Forum on the Profession: The Role of Government Relations in Higher Education
Participate in a discussion with seasoned government relations professionals on the functions and effective interactions inherent to the occupation, based on the recently published book From Campus to Capitol: The Role of Government Relations in Higher Education, published by The Johns Hopkins University Press. A
terrific session for those new to the profession.
William McMillen, Vice President for Government Relations, University of Toledo
R. Ellyn Perrone, Associate V.P. for Research/Federal Relations at the University of Texas at Austin
James Gaymon, Vice President for Civic and Governmental Relations, Rowan University (NJ)
Rosemary Potter, Director of Government Relations, University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW-Extension
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Navigating State Lobbying Laws to Successfully Advance Policy Priorities
Frederick Schaffer, General Counsel & Senior V.C. for Legal Affairs, CUNY
C. Randall Nuckolls, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, Washington Office
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| 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. |
Plenary Session
Washington Update: Briefing on Federal Legislation and Policy Issues
Robert Moran, Director, Federal Relations & Policy Analysis, AASCU
Jennifer Poulakidas, Vice President of Congressional Relations, APLU
Jim Hermes, Senior Legislative Associate, AACC
Brian Flahaven, Director of Government Relations, CASE
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| FRIDAY, DEC. 3 |
| 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast with Affinity Groups |
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. |
Plenary Sessions
Spending, Costs, and Prices: Strategies for Boosting Productivity, Attainment and Public Perceptions in Higher Education
A discussion on higher education spending and cost reduction strategies aimed at boosting productivity and educational attainment, as well as methods for constructively communicating institutional spending priorities and the return on states’ investment in higher education.
Jane Wellman, Executive Director, Delta Project on Postsecondary Costs, Productivity and Accountability
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| 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. |
State Outlook: Fiscal and State Policy Issues Impacting Higher Education
Daniel Hurley, Director, State Relations & Policy Analysis, AASCU
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| 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. |
The 2010 Congressional Midterms: Observations and Implications
Sean Theriault, Associate Professor of Government, University of Texas-Austin |
| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. |
The 112th Congress and the Higher Education Policy Agenda
Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, (D-TX) Chair, House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong
Learning, and Competitiveness
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11:15 – 11:30 a.m. |
Conference Closing |
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Registration Fees
- Early Registration (through November 15) $475
- Late Registration (after November 15) - $500
How to Register
Please select among the two options below:
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OPTION 1: Express Online Registration. (Available to all individuals who have either attended the Higher Education Government Relations/State Relations Conference in the past or who have had contact with AASCU in the past).
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Register |
| OPTION 2: Register via the downloadable registration form, to be mailed or faxed in. (Required for those who have not attended the conference in the past or who have not had contact with AASCU in the past). |
Download Form (pdf) |
Registration assistance:
Tom Harnisch, 202-478-4660 or email harnischt@aascu.org |
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Cancellation Policy
Cancel in writing by Nov. 12 to receive full refund.
Cancellations received after Nov. 12 will be charged a $150 administration fee that will be used to pay for meals and services already guaranteed at the hotel.
Cancellations received after Nov. 26 will not be refunded.
Conference Sponsorship
The 2010 Higher Education Government Relations Conference serves as an exceptional venue for generating product/service visibility and professional networking.
To learn more about conference sponsorship opportunities, click here
For a sponsorship application, click here
Local Attractions and Activities
Historic landmarks dot the landscape, including the State Capitol and the University of Texas campus.
Renovated in the early 1990s, the State Capitol building offers free guided tours of the
Rotunda and its other attractions. Built in 1888 of native pink granite and other Texas
materials, the stately Texas Capitol is the centerpiece of the State Capitol Complex.
The University features a fascinating array of collections, exhibits and museums. Large trees and various fountains and statues surround the campus grounds, making it a lovely place to spend the day.