Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Feb. 6 provided insight into some common themes emerging among two-year colleges that have received funding through the U.S. Labor Department’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training (SCCT) Grants Program. Speaking at the Community College National Legislative Summit (NLS) in Washington, D.C., Su said she sees three threads among grantees over […]
Advocacy and Funding Articles
An early look at spring enrollments
It’s still very early in the spring term, but a steady number of community colleges across the country are reporting initial enrollment increases for the new semester, potentially continuing a trend from the fall that started last spring. This fall, community colleges gained 118,000 students, a 2.6% increase – the highest growth of any sector […]
Commentary: A gift that keeps giving
Sometimes, the greatest gifts arrive in the most unexpected ways. Recently, I received a message from a former participant of Waubonsee Works, a program funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The news brought more joy than the most expensive present. “I got the job,” the email exclaimed. While it is exciting news […]
Successful Promise program renewed
After two years of promising results, the Indian River State College (IRSC) Promise program will continue. A unanimous vote by the IRSC Foundation board to renew the IRSC Promise program means students graduating in 2024 from in-district public and public charter high schools and eligible in-district homeschool graduates can earn tuition-free associate degrees from IRSC. […]
Mass. ushers in free community college
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $56 billion state budget into law on Aug. 9, making Massachusetts community colleges tuition-free for many students and expanding in-state tuition to undocumented immigrant students who attended high school in Massachusetts. “This is a transformational budget for Massachusetts community colleges,” said Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) President Pam Y. […]
Funding alert: Apply for PSSG funding
The U.S. Education Department (ED) is accepting applications for a new round of funding through its Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) program, which aims to improve retention and college completion through evidence-based practices. Higher education institutions, including community colleges, have until September 25 to apply for four-year grants that will range from $2 million to […]
A reaffirmed commitment to access, student success
As expected, there was a tidal wave of responses from all sides of the issue when the Supreme Court on Thursday released its ruling that rejects affirmation action in college admissions. And while advocates are still reviewing the decision and its implications, it will undoubtedly alter the recruitment and enrollment practices of many selective colleges […]
Alabama’s HBCCs join Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Alabama’s six historically Black community colleges (HBCC) have joined the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), which will provide access for the colleges’ students to more scholarships and professional development opportunities through a national partnership. “Adding community colleges to our membership is part of an intentional move toward a more inclusive talent strategy. A four-year degree […]
Report roundup
Here are three reports to know about this month: 1. Undergraduate enrollments seem to have stabilized this fall — including at community colleges — and there’s been an uptick among freshmen, with public two-year colleges seeing the biggest bump, according to final fall enrollment data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center. In fall […]
Washington Watch: FY23 community college earmarks
Community colleges across the country will receive millions of dollars in additional designated funding from the federal government as a part of Congress’ fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations package passed late last month and just signed into law by President Joe Biden. Nearly $183 million of community project funding — formerly known as earmarks […]