Peter Plympton Smith
Encyclopedia
Peter Plympton Smith is a former member of the United States House of Representatives
from the U.S. state of Vermont
, the 74th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and an education administrator. He served as the founding president of the Community College of Vermont
, the founding president of California State University, Monterey Bay
, and as assistant director general for education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
).
Peter Smith is currently serving as Senior Vice President for Academic Strategies and Development at Kaplan Higher Education Corporation, a global education company owned by the Washington Post company. At KHE, he has spear-headed efforts to personalize degree programs and learning support systems, while strengthening their outcomes-based pedagogy at the program and course level. Smith is also developing new market positions and services for the fast-changing adult postsecondary education market. He is currently one of several bloggers appearing regularly on the Kaplan site, www.rethinkinghighereducation.com.
Frederick P. Smith. Peter P. Smith was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was raised in Burlington, Vermont
. He graduated from Phillips Academy
in 1964 and received a B.A.
in history from Princeton University
in 1968. In 1970 he received a master of arts in teaching,from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
. In 1983 he received his Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in administration, planning, and social policy.
, a Vermont State College
. Between 1981 and 1982, he served as a Vermont state senator representing a district in Washington County
. Elected Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 1982, he served two, two-year terms. After two years as Vice President of Development at Norwich University
he was elected to the Congress
in 1988 as congressman at-large with 41.2% of the vote. In 1990, he was defeated in his bid for re-election by independent Bernie Sanders
.
Funded by a Mina Shaughnessy Fellowship, Smith wrote Your Hidden Credentials: The Value of Personal Learning Outside College, a 1986, Acropolis Books, Ltd. The book, now out of print, promotes college credit for life experience. Smith is also the author of The Quiet Crisis: How Higher Education Is Failing America, 2004, Anker Publishing Company, Inc. which received juried acclaim from the American Association of Continuing Education. His third book, "Harnessing America's Wasted Talent: New Dimensions for Higher Education" (Jossey-Bass, 2010) will be published in early 2010.
From 1991 to 1994, Smith served as dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University
. In 1991, he also served as executive director of the U.S. Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education. In 1994, due in part to his work in assessment at GWU, the California State University recruited Smith as founding president of California State University, Monterey Bay
, a post that he vacated in 2005. Beginning June 20, 2005, Smith served as assistant director general for education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
).
After assuming the post of Assistant Director General (ADG) for Education of UNESCO, Smith made several moves based on his mandate from UNESCO's General Conference and from its Director General in an attempt to reform the Education Sector of the institution. These included developing UNESS, a simplified national education support strategy; a Global Action Plan; involvement with the G8
and the World Economic Forum
; restructuring the headquarter's governance structure; and implementing a de-centralization plan for UNESCO's Education Sector. After an intensive one-year study contracted out to Navigant Consulting, all but three of over 50 recommendations were approved for implementation by the Director General in June, 2006.
Political fallout to the approved reforms led to anonoymous charges of financial improprieties in the awarding of contracts totaling USD $ 2.2 million to Navigant Consulting without proper UNESCO oversight. Smith was found to have used an established, but alternative bidding procedure in the UNESCO rules. The UNESCO Executive Board ultimately resolved to clarify and strengthen the bid procedures at UNESCO. In March, 2007, having received a death threat at his home, Smith offered his resignation.
He is the brother of Charles Plympton Smith
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, the 74th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and an education administrator. He served as the founding president of the Community College of Vermont
Community College of Vermont
The Community College of Vermont is a two year college founded in 1970 with locations in 12 sites in the state of Vermont. The college is a part of the Vermont State Colleges, a consortium of Vermont's five public colleges governed by a common board of trustees, chancellor, and Council of...
, the founding president of California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
, and as assistant director general for education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
).
Peter Smith is currently serving as Senior Vice President for Academic Strategies and Development at Kaplan Higher Education Corporation, a global education company owned by the Washington Post company. At KHE, he has spear-headed efforts to personalize degree programs and learning support systems, while strengthening their outcomes-based pedagogy at the program and course level. Smith is also developing new market positions and services for the fast-changing adult postsecondary education market. He is currently one of several bloggers appearing regularly on the Kaplan site, www.rethinkinghighereducation.com.
Early life and education
Smith is the son of Burlington, Vermont banker and Vermont State SenatorVermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
Frederick P. Smith. Peter P. Smith was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was raised in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. He graduated from Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in 1964 and received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1968. In 1970 he received a master of arts in teaching,from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University, and is one of the top schools of education in the United States. It was founded in 1920, the same year it invented the Ed.D...
. In 1983 he received his Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in administration, planning, and social policy.
Career in education and politics
Smith served one year as an assistant to the Vermont Commissioner of Education. In 1970, he became the founding president of the Community College of VermontCommunity College of Vermont
The Community College of Vermont is a two year college founded in 1970 with locations in 12 sites in the state of Vermont. The college is a part of the Vermont State Colleges, a consortium of Vermont's five public colleges governed by a common board of trustees, chancellor, and Council of...
, a Vermont State College
Vermont State Colleges
The Vermont State Colleges is the U.S. state of Vermont's system of public colleges. It functions as a governance organization, and was created by act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1961...
. Between 1981 and 1982, he served as a Vermont state senator representing a district in Washington County
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
. Elected Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 1982, he served two, two-year terms. After two years as Vice President of Development at Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
he was elected to the Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1988 as congressman at-large with 41.2% of the vote. In 1990, he was defeated in his bid for re-election by independent Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
.
Funded by a Mina Shaughnessy Fellowship, Smith wrote Your Hidden Credentials: The Value of Personal Learning Outside College, a 1986, Acropolis Books, Ltd. The book, now out of print, promotes college credit for life experience. Smith is also the author of The Quiet Crisis: How Higher Education Is Failing America, 2004, Anker Publishing Company, Inc. which received juried acclaim from the American Association of Continuing Education. His third book, "Harnessing America's Wasted Talent: New Dimensions for Higher Education" (Jossey-Bass, 2010) will be published in early 2010.
From 1991 to 1994, Smith served as dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. In 1991, he also served as executive director of the U.S. Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education. In 1994, due in part to his work in assessment at GWU, the California State University recruited Smith as founding president of California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
, a post that he vacated in 2005. Beginning June 20, 2005, Smith served as assistant director general for education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
).
Work at UNESCO
At UNESCO, Smith's education experience was expressed by his concern for the wellbeing of learners: “Quality is an issue,” says Smith. "UNESCO has long encouraged the internationalization of education and the involvement of a range of partners, but we must also protect students from inadequate learning resources, low-quality provisions, degree mills and bogus institutions.”After assuming the post of Assistant Director General (ADG) for Education of UNESCO, Smith made several moves based on his mandate from UNESCO's General Conference and from its Director General in an attempt to reform the Education Sector of the institution. These included developing UNESS, a simplified national education support strategy; a Global Action Plan; involvement with the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
and the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
; restructuring the headquarter's governance structure; and implementing a de-centralization plan for UNESCO's Education Sector. After an intensive one-year study contracted out to Navigant Consulting, all but three of over 50 recommendations were approved for implementation by the Director General in June, 2006.
Political fallout to the approved reforms led to anonoymous charges of financial improprieties in the awarding of contracts totaling USD $ 2.2 million to Navigant Consulting without proper UNESCO oversight. Smith was found to have used an established, but alternative bidding procedure in the UNESCO rules. The UNESCO Executive Board ultimately resolved to clarify and strengthen the bid procedures at UNESCO. In March, 2007, having received a death threat at his home, Smith offered his resignation.
He is the brother of Charles Plympton Smith
Charles Plympton Smith
Charles Plympton Smith is a banker and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Vermont who served in the Vermont House of Representatives. The son of banker and state senator Frederick Plympton Smith, he received a B.A...
.