Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that beginning in January the state will expand its HOPE Career Grant to offer students greater career opportunities in five of Georgia’s fast-growing industries, increasing the total number of programs that qualify for this grant to 17. “These additional fields are the result of polling of industries, talking to local […]
Advocacy and Funding Articles
The lasting impact of Mentor-Connect
Grant funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program can transform STEM (science, technology, education and math) programs at community colleges. But getting that first ATE grant may require a little help. That’s where Mentor-Connect comes in. Mentor-Connect provides mentoring and technical resources to help two-year college faculty prepare competitive proposals […]
Reactions to rescinding DACA
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced that it will wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows certain young, undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. Congress now has a six-month window to find a solution for the 800,000 so-called “Dreamers.” The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in a statement called […]
Engaging your alumni
Community colleges serve nearly half of the total undergraduate population in the United States. Two-year colleges can be the stepping stone to a four-year degree, a good career, or, for some, fame and fortune. Tom Hanks? Amy Tan? Nolan Ryan? They all got their start at community colleges. In 2015, Hanks wrote an opinion piece […]
Year-round Pell opens opportunities for students
Getting Congress to approve the use of Pell grants for programs outside the traditional academic calendar was a top legislative priority of the American Association of Community Colleges and was highlighted in AACC’s successful #PellYes campaign on social media. Year-round Pell was available in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years, until budget constraints prompted lawmakers […]
Bill would expand services for veterans
The American Association of Community Colleges and five other higher education organizations are supporting a House bill that would strengthen and expand higher education benefits for veterans and their families. “It comes at an important time for student veterans, as over five million Post-9/11 service members are expected to transition out of the military by […]
Finding skilled workers for 6M available jobs
One of the reasons for the widening gap between the number of available jobs and qualified employees is an overemphasis on bachelor’s degrees as the only postsecondary path, according to David Harrison, president of Columbus State Community College (Ohio). In fact, Harrison told the congressional Joint Economic Committee on July 12 that jobs requiring an […]
Governors support CTE, job-training funding
The National Governors Association (NGA) doesn’t often wade into debates over federal appropriations, especially over specific programs. But the issue of workforce development is so critical to state economies that NGA on Thursday encouraged congressional appropriators not to cut funding for career and technical education and job training programs. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for […]
Restoring year-round Pell
Congressional leaders reached a budget deal Sunday night that includes restoring year-round Pell grants, beginning with the 2017–2018 award year. Restoration of year-round Pell has been a top AACC priority since its elimination in FY 2011.The omnibus bill funds federal agencies through September 30. Starting July 1, the maximum Pell Grant increases to $5,920. A […]
Celebrating Community College Month
Community College Month is a time when college leaders should be bragging about all the contributions they make to the lives of students and to the community. Here are some ideas about celebrating your institution: Invite the public for a visit. Campus tours are a great way of showing off your programs. Include demonstrations with […]