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Meet John Bassett

Clark's president, John Bassett, was installed as the University's eighth president in March 2001. Since joining Clark in July 2000, he has worked closely with faculty, alumni and friends of the University to continue to strengthen Clark's reputation as a research university —one that offers unique opportunities for undergraduates as well as graduates to work alongside the University's first-class faculty on their research—and as a vibrant academic environment with a strong commitment to the urban community and social justice.

Read President Bassett's ideas about Clark's academic programs, community initiatives through the University Park Partnership, faculty, students, and alumni. We invite you to contact the President's Office at (508) 793-7320. Your feedback is important to us.

President Bassett has been working with the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) to publicize the University and College Accountability Network (U-CAN) Initiative, which was launched in September. He recently participated in two radio interviews on this topic. On Wednesday, Oct. 31, he spoke with KDJS-FM (Willmar, MN), and on Tuesday, Nov. 6, he taped an interview with WICO-AM (Salisbury, MD). Both interviews were approximately 10 minutes long.

The network was created in response to a call for greater transparency in college costs. President Bassett chaired the NAICU task force that implemented U-CAN. More background on the U-CAN initiative.

President John Bassett's 2008 Commencement Address

Read the full text (PDF)

President Bassett testifies before House Education and Labor Committee

		President John Bassett testified before the House Education and Labor Committee at a hearing on college tuition costs on Nov. 1 (2007), in Washington D.C. The Committee called the hearing in advance of proposed legislation to extend the Higher Education Act. Some lawmakers from both parties are seeking to curtail rising tuition costs in private and public colleges. Congress, however, did pass in September the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which provides a large increase in college aid.
Read more about President Bassett's testimony. (PDF) View the Web cast of the hearing. The Committee's formal press release on the hearing. Text of President Bassett's prepared testimony. (PDF) More about the U-CAN initiative. "A College-Friendly Take on Rising Prices" - Inside Higher Ed coverage of the hearing.

President Bassett talks to Fox 25 News about college tuition

President Bassett was interviewed by Boston's Fox 25 News for a segment titled, "Examining the Rise in College Tuition," which aired Sunday, Nov. 18.
View the segment online.

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Hallmarks of a Clark Education Timeline of Clark's History

L-R: President Jackson (emeritus), President Bassett and President Appley (emeritus) at the "emeriti" dinner at Harrington House, November 6, 2006. John and Kay Bassett host this dinner every fall and invite all the emeriti faculty together, plus any faculty that have been teaching for 30+ years.