i talked with dr. kerr win for a moment, and we've talked many times about deregulation of our education, and creating more of an environment in which innovation can occur. there's also the definition of credit hour, not having the pell grant available year round. federal aid rules that don't allow students to excel through course work. i'd like to hear your comments whether these are impediments. they make it more difficult for you to innovate. the one area that seems to me that would be obvious for more innovation. and i think i understand a lot about why it hasn't happened. it seems to me it has to happen is a more efficient use of time and facilities at colleges and universities. forth washington university's steven track ten berg once told me, you can run two complete colleges with two complete faculties in the facilities now use half a year for one. that's without cutting the length of vacations, increasing class sizes or requiring faculties to teach more. dartmouth college has one mandatory summer se

dr. kerr one, welcome. that -- dr. kirwan, welcome. allowed to express my appreciation to the committee members for the important work you have done and continue to do on behalf of higher education. i'm especially pleased that you are focusing on the issue of innovation in higher education delivery. we are at an important moment in higher education, brought about by three dynamics. first, the fiscal challenges requiring higher education to do more with less. in informations technology, the creation of intelligent software, and the ubiquitous nature of the internet. and has the potential to transform our nation's college choir -- college classrooms. about the kind of activities that imprint knowledge on the brain. the potential to improve teaching and learning using i.t. is a tool, serve more students, and bends the cost curve and creates the most exciting opportunity i have experienced in my 50 years in higher education. let me describe what we are doing in the university system of maryland to realize this opportunity. the university s