President Obama has invited university officials to come to Washington this week to talk about ways to help students who are poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Western Michigan University President John Dunn will be among those attending the conference Thursday.
The "College Opportunity Day of Action" will include remarks by the President as well as Vice-President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama. It will conclude with the annual White House Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.
WMU officials say Dunn will be part of a panel discussing efforts in Michigan to help high school counselors get students ready to continue their education after they graduate. Western has made some changes in the courses it requires for student studying to become school counselors. The WMU program is being offered to other colleges and universities that have degree programs in counseling.
One other focus of the White House conference is finding ways to encourage more college students to pursue degrees in scientific, technology, and engineering fields.