Jeffrey Cass, dean of the ULM College of Arts and Sciences, was one of three deans named to the prestigious Blue Ribbon Commission in October.

Since the 1999-2000 academic year, the Blue Ribbon Commission has been charged to address issues in education for the State of Louisiana. It has dealt with educational leadership preparation, middle school education, special education, and, most recently, with teacher preparation accountability.

Cass acknowledges the substantial responsibility. "This is critical, so that institutions like ULM work with all its educational partners in a push to enhance the quality of all students' educations in this state, and at all levels."

Structured for both knowledge building and consensus building, the meetings of the Blue Ribbon Commission are crucial in developing solutions to the problems that educators face in Louisiana—solutions that ideally cut across the internal cultures and interests of individual schools, colleges, and districts.