U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal to Travel to Texas, Participate in Roundtable Conversations with Students about Pell 50th Anniversary, College Affordability, Speak at NASFAA Annual Conference

Archived Information

U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal to Travel to Texas, Participate in Roundtable Conversations with Students about Pell 50th Anniversary, College Affordability, Speak at NASFAA Annual Conference

Kvaal to visit St. Edward’s University in Austin, Rice University and San Jacinto College in Houston
Contact:   (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov
Event Date 1 : June 27, 2022 - 10:15am
Event Date 2 : June 27, 2022 - 2:30pm
Event Date 3 : June 28, 2022 - 9:30am
Event Date 4 : June 28, 2022 - 12:45pm

From Monday through Tuesday, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal will travel to Texas. Under Secretary Kvaal will visit several universities throughout Texas. During these visits, he will speak with students and school leaders about ongoing efforts to ensure college is affordable and accessible, highlight the 50th Anniversary of the Pell Grant, and learn how colleges have used Covid-relief funds to support student success. During his trip, Under Secretary Kvaal will also speak at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) National Conference, where he will discuss the Department’s higher education priorities and progress made on targeted debt relief.

On Monday, Under Secretary Kvaal will travel to St. Edward’s University in Austin where he will participate in a roundtable conversation with students who are part of College Forward, a program that helps empower students to achieve their postsecondary goals. In recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Pell, they will discuss the importance of the grant and the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to increase Pell funding so that it can stay effective for generations to come.

Under Secretary Kvaal will then participate in a fireside chat conversation on the Department’s priorities and progress made on targeted debt relief at the NASFAA National Conference. The conversation will be moderated by NASFAA president and CEO Justin Draeger.  

On Tuesday, the Under Secretary will travel to Houston to visit Rice University. During the visit he will learn about the school’s OpenStax program, which ensures students can access textbooks for free online. He will also participate in a conversation with university leaders about college affordability, retention, and how the university can use Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) funds to help support student success.

Afterwards, Under Secretary Kvaal will visit San Jacinto College where he will join college leaders for a roundtable discussion about the college’s career connected programs and how they’ve used HEERF funds to provide tuition assistance for students and have increased enrollment in their classrooms.

Please RSVP by emailing pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your spot and to receive detailed access directions.

Event 1
Who :

Participants:

U.S. Under Secretary James Kvaal
St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes, PhD
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner, Harrison Keller, Ph.D. College Forward Executive Director Jesse Hendrix
St. Edward’s University leadership
College Forward and St. Edward’s University students

Press:  This is an open press event. If you are interested in covering this event, please email pressrsvp@ed.gov. 

*Under Secretary Kvaal will be available for press opportunities following the conversation.

What :

Roundtable at St. Edward’s University

When :

June 27, 2022
10:30-11:15a.m. CT (Time is subject to change) 
*Please arrive no later than 10:15 a.m. CT*

Where :

St. Edward’s University
Fleck Hall #305
3001 South Congress Ave
Austin, Texas

Event 2
Who :

Participants:

U.S. Under Secretary James Kvaal
NASFAA president and CEO Justin Draeger

Press:  This is an open press event. If you are interested in covering this event, please email pressrsvp@ed.gov. 

*Under Secretary Kvaal will be available for press opportunities following the conversation.

What :

NASFAA National Conference Fireside Chat

When :

June 27, 2022
2:45-3:45 p.m. CT (Time is subject to change)
*Please arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. CT*

Where :

Austin Convention Center
500 E Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, Texas


Event 3
Who :

Participants:

U.S. Under Secretary James Kvaal
Rice University OpenStax Founder and Director Richard Baraniuk
Rice University Associate Provost Matthew Taylor
Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research Director Ruth López
Rice University leadership

Press:  This is an open press event. If you are interested in covering this event, please email pressrsvp@ed.gov. 

*Under Secretary Kvaal will be available for press opportunities following the conversation.

What :

Conversation with Rice University Leaders
When :

June 28, 2022
9:55-10:30 a.m. CT (Time is subject to change)
*Please arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. CT*

Where :

The Ion
4201 Main St.
Houston, Texas

Event 4
Who :

Participants:

U.S. Under Secretary James Kvaal
San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer, PhD
San Jacinto College Deputy Chancellor and College President Laurel Williamson, PhD
San Jacinto College leadership

Press:  This is an open press event. If you are interested in covering this event, please email pressrsvp@ed.gov. 

*Under Secretary Kvaal will be available for press opportunities following the conversation.

What :

Roundtable at San Jacinto College

When :

June 28, 2022
1:00-1:55 p.m. CT (Time is subject to change)
*Please arrive no later than 12:45 p.m. CT*

Where :

San Jacinto College
13735 Beamer Rd.
Houston, Texas

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