Core Values

	 VAE’s community college activities O	 embody the following principles:

•	 Collaboration and partnership

between key constituency groups are

essential to supporting and sustaining

community colleges;

•	 Community colleges need strong

national leadership to achieve their

fullest potential;

•	 Innovation at the federal, state and

local levels improves educational

opportunities and outcomes for all

Americans;

•	 Effective communication fosters partnerships and public support that enable community colleges to thrive; and

•	 Unwavering respect for diversity and

a commitment to inclusiveness are

necessary to ensure high-quality

community college systems.

VAE reaches out to diverse groups

	 to continue the national dialogue

started by the Secretary of Education’s

Commission on the Future of Higher

Education (http://www.ed.gov/about/

bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports/finalreport.pdf ). Primary constituencies

include:

O

•	 Community college presidents, faculty

and other campus leaders;

•	 Community college trustees;

•	 Community college students;

•	 Adult learners;

•	 Employers;

•	 Employees;

•	 Parents;

•	 High school students and secondary

school teachers, counselors and

administrators;

•	 U.S. Department of Education staff;

•	 U.S. Department of Labor and other

federal agencies;

•	 Foundations; and

•	 National organizations representing

education, economic development,

public policy, and employment and

training organizations.

	 he mission of the Office of Vocational

	 and Adult Education (OVAE) is to

support the implementation of Secretary

Spellings’ action plan for higher education by serving as the hub for community college information and leadership

on issues of accessibility, affordability

and accountability.To view the action

plan visit http://www.ed.gov/about/

bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/plan/index.

html.

T

	 VAE will assume a leadership

	 position on all matters related to

community colleges within the U.S.

Department of Education and the education community at large. OVAE will be

viewed as an authority in national dialogues

on high school reform, postsecondary education, adult education, workforce development and related transition strategies.

O

Mission 

Vision 

Constituencies
	 To develop a structure and culture

	 within the U.S. Department of

	 Education that value and promote

the role of community colleges in postsecondary education.

OVAE

Office of Vocational and Adult Education

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Community 

Serving

Goals and Objectives

	 To establish widespread public support

	 for community colleges as centers of

	 innovation and providers of superior

education and training that are affordable

and accessible to all Americans.

Objective 1: Launch a comprehensive

outreach campaign to publicize the benefits of a community college education

for individuals, local economies and the

society at large.

Objective 2: Spotlight exemplary community college programs that deliver

quality academics, build strong community and business partnerships, and

maximize affordable and accessible

education options for adult learners.

	 To serve as a portal for timely and

	 actionable guidance on community

	 college education for teachers, administrators, students, parents and employers.

Objective 1: Develop an online resource

center with information about community college accessibility, affordability,

accountability and quality.

Objective 2: Assist and support community college leaders in strengthening 

accessibility, affordability, accountability

and quality at their institutions.

3

Objective 1: To formalize and support the

role of the deputy assistant secretary for

community colleges within OVAE and the

Department.

Objective 2: To ensure that the community

college perspective is included in discussions

of secondary and postsecondary education

within the U.S. Department of Education.

1

2

Colleges

The Department of Education’s mission is to

promote student achievement and preparation for

global competitiveness by fostering educational

excellence and ensuring equal access.

Contact: Gail Schwartz

550 12th St. S.W.

Washington, DC 20202-7100

(202) 245-7700 (office)

(202) 245-7837 (fax)

gail.schwartz@ed.gov

http://www.ed.gov/ovae