Cengage Learning CEO Michael Hansen Provides Commentary on President Obama's Call for Free Access to Community Colleges

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Jan 09, 2015, 01:38 ET

BOSTON, Jan. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighting the role of community colleges as 'the backbone of the U.S. higher education system,' Michael Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of Cengage Learning offers thoughts on President Obama's proposal to provide students with free access to a community college education. Hansen, an advocate and leader in the education space, offers that increased access is only one component to improving higher education in the United States.

Michael E. Hansen became Chief Executive Officer of Cengage Learning in September of 2012 and he oversees all aspects of the global business. Mr. Hansen is focused on the evolution of the publishing industry, including the transition the publishing industry is making from print to digital and the development of new product lines for a digital world. He has deep experience in equipping organizations with the structure necessary to support these transitions.

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Current statistics show that dropout rates are currently at a staggering 42%. As a global education company and a leading provider of materials to community colleges, Cengage Learning is committed to increasing student retention, engagement and matriculation. Hansen believes this can be accomplished through better use of educational technology, an increased focus on the student experience, and better understanding of the causes behind student dropouts.

Notable Quotes

"Community colleges are the core and the centerpiece of the US higher education system…Dropout rates are way too high. I believe that with the appropriate use of technology and the appropriate focus on the student experience, we can actually materially affect those dropout rates."

"Providing more access is not going to be the full answer; it's going to be part of the answer. The critical thing we have to focus on is understanding when and why these dropouts happen in community colleges."

"They [community colleges] are the heartbeat, the backbone of the education system, and we now have the ability to, with content and technology, make them a lot more effective…we need to make sure that we have a workforce that is educated, fit for purpose, and ready to compete in an increasingly global environment."

About Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, technology, and services company for the higher education and K-12, professional and library markets worldwide. The company provides superior content, personalized services and course-driven digital solutions that accelerate student engagement and transform the learning experience. Cengage Learning is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub located in San Francisco, CA. Cengage Learning employees reside in nearly 40 different countries with company sales in more than 125 countries around the world. www.cengage.com.

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SOURCE Cengage Learning