On Monday in a private meeting President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan met with a dozen higher education presidents and representatives from the Lumina Foundation and the Delta Project to discuss affordability and productivity in higher education.

The majority of presidents in attendance were from public institutions and represented institutions that had done something about reducing spending or improving student learning. Among the institutions represented included the Western Governors University, Berea College, and Carnegie Mellon University.

The group discussed how to curb the rising cost of college and improve graduation rates. Reports suggest that the conversation focused on how to drive down tuition, how to improve affordability and graduation rates through innovation, and the right role of the federal government in meeting these goals.