David Arendale, associate professor in Postsecondary Teaching and Learning and codirector of the Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education, was invited to Washington, D.C., for a symposium focused on fulfilling President Obama's College Completion Initiative. The Department of Education invited 60 experts on research and best practices to share their expertise on how to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of college courses, and how to better support those students as they progress through higher education.

Education Secretary Duncan called on the group to fulfill the president's goal to return the U.S. to number one in world rankings for college completion by 2020. A final report of the work by the symposium participants will be published as a "Toolkit for College Completion" and made available for postsecondary institutions.