The Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Fund is known throughout Minneapolis College for helping students meet basic needs such as one-time emergency expenses, transportation costs, food, and fees related to taking certification exams after graduation. Recognizing the importance of providing emergency grants and seeing first-hand how a financial hardship impacted some of the dedicated students […]
Advocacy and Funding Articles
A new era for Iowa college’s sustainability efforts
Kirkwood Community College announced it will be decommissioning its wind turbine in the spring of 2025. The Iowa college is working with contracted services to assess the necessary steps and costs associated with deconstructing the 417-foot-tall structure, which has been a landmark on the north side of the college’s main campus for over a decade. […]
A look at how SCCT grants are working
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 […]
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 […]