Providence, Rhode Island, March 5th, 2008: Governor Donald L. Carcieri, Johnson & Wales University President Irving Schneider, Rhode Island School of Design President Roger Mandle and University of Rhode Island President Robert L. Carothers will be among the featured speakers at a special meeting of the state’s PK-16 Council this Friday, March 7th at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting’s sole agenda item is the presentation of a preliminary report detailing the partnerships between Rhode Island’s institutions of higher education and K-12 schools in Rhode Island. The report was prepared as a collaborative project led by the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, the Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association and Rhode Island Campus
Compact.

Two higher education institutions — Providence College and the University of Rhode Island — will each give brief presentations about one of their partnerships. Providence College’s presentation will focus on its work with the Providence After School Alliance. The University of Rhode Island’s presentation will focus on its work with Central Falls High School.

The project was funded by the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Commodores and the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Approximately 125 people are expected to attend.