As the new administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump develops its higher education policies, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has laid out its vision of how the federal government can help community colleges continue in their mission to provide high-quality education and related programs. Increasing access and success for students Strengthening the Pell […]

Most community college public affairs, public relations or community relations professionals wear many hats. And when our plates are really full at the office, it sometimes seems best to push aside those initiatives that seem the least impactful. Unfortunately for some, engaging in federal government relations becomes one of those casualties. For many of us, […]

Over the past eight years, community colleges have had a seat at the table and have played a prominent role in several programs implemented by the Obama administration. Today’s election marks a significant change in the political landscape. Both presidential candidates have higher education proposals. Hillary Clinton’s plan Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s “New College Compact” […]

Nearly 40 percent of all community college students receive a Pell grant. By making Pell available year-round, more students would stay in school and make progress toward completion. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has launched a campaign to bring attention to the need for year-round Pell (YRP), which was eliminated after only one […]

Mentor-Connect is a leadership development and outreach initiative for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Technological Education Program (ATE). It’s designed to provide mentors, faculty development, and resources to help community colleges apply for and benefit from ATE. Basically, it’s a catalyst for the advancement of technician education. ATE began in 1993, and has since provided […]

While it hasn’t been the main focus of this year’s presidential election, higher education has found a place in both the Republican and Democratic parties’ platforms. The Republican Platform During the Republican National Convention, delegates approved the party’s 2016 platform. The document calls for alternatives to “traditional 4-year schools” and for the federal student loan […]

Nearly 40 percent of all community college students receive a Pell grant. For some of these students, a summer break in classes can lead to a permanent break. Offering year-round Pell (YRP) can eliminate that break and help students persist, leading to completion. Congress is closer than ever to reinstating YRP, which was eliminated in […]

Last month, Ray Perren, president of Lanier Technical College in Oakwood, Georgia, testified before the House Small Business Committee during a hearing titled “The New Faces of American Manufacturing,” which focused on how to best prepare the next generation of U.S. manufacturing workers. In his testimony, Perren called for a “Sputnik moment” in manufacturing-workforce development […]

The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges recently celebrated a big milestone: It has raised over $32 million in five years. The foundation was created in 2009 in an attempt to cultivate business and foundation leaders who value the role community colleges play in meeting the state’s challenges. Leon Gorman, the former president of L.L. Bean […]

Until the close of Wyoming’s legislative session in March, funding for the state’s seven community colleges — located in Cheyenne, Casper, Sheridan, Riverton, Rock Springs, Powell and Torrington — was primarily based on enrollment numbers more than 10 years old. “Basically, at the beginning of every two-year cycle, we go back to [allocated funding based […]