WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama welcomed representatives from more than 100 universities and organizations to the White House in January for a high-profile summit designed to spur improved college access for low-income students.

Mixed in with the college presidents and philanthropists were a handful of business leaders, including executives from Chegg, iMentor, Khan Academy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Pearson. Other businesses, like the textbook publisher McGraw-Hill Education, said they were aware of the event but did not attend.

“This was really a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of people,” said Greg Tobin, Pearson’s president of higher education English, mathematics, and student success, who attended the summit. “The president and the first lady gave a call of action to everyone, and energized folks, letting them know that there is a mission here. The country is depending on them.”

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