In September 2005, The Department of Education formed the Commission on Higher Education. It was charged with "developing a comprehensive national strategy for postsecondary education that will meet the needs of America's diverse population and also address the economic and workforce needs of the country's future." In August 2006, the Commission approved a final report that "urges a broad shake-up of American higher education. It calls for public universities to measure learning with standardized tests, federal monitoring of college quality and sweeping changes in financial aid." (1).

The final report of the Commission contained 6 recommendations. The numbered links below contain additional information on the recommendations of the commission. For a full copy of the report, click here.

• 1 - Every Student should have opportunity to pursue postsecondary education;
• 2 - Restructure entire financial aid system and improve the measurement and management of costs;
• 3 - Creation of a "robust culture of accountability and transparency" in higher education;
• 4 - Evolution of programs and institutions to meet needs of a "knowledge economy" with a particular focus on math and science
• 5 - Develop a national strategy for lifelong learning
• 6 - Increased federal investment in areas "critical to our nation's global competitiveness"

The report concluded that properly improving the American higher education system required "urgent attention."