New research from Lumina Foundation and Gallup shows a startling difference between what the public thinks about higher education and what students and graduates say. In general, while public confidence in higher education has steadily dropped over the past decade — led by concerns about costs, politicization and workforce outcomes — students and alumni report […]

Briana Wood is used to getting invitations to speak at local and national events. Just last week, the Virginia Western Community College graduate came to Washington, D.C., to participate in a panel discussion at a workforce development meeting held by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Wood, who is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree […]

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), today launches its platform to advance student innovation and impact in STEM through the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). The annual competition aims to foster the development of students’ innovation, communication and entrepreneurial skills. It also enables students to discover […]

With the opening of the new $10 million Early Learning Campus (ELC), Madison College in Wisconsin has expanded childcare and strengthened future early childhood educator training. The 20,324-square-foot center now provides licensed care to 85-100 children from six weeks to five years old, addressing a critical shortage of childcare options in the City of Madison. In […]

The final months of 2025 brought an unprecedented opportunity to immerse myself in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Through three distinct conferences, each offering unique perspectives on AI’s role in teaching, learning and workforce preparation. I gained invaluable insights that have fundamentally shaped my understanding of where we stand and […]

The Consortium of Doctoral Programs in Rhetoric and Composition announced that the Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) and the Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies at the University of Utah (U of U) will receive the 2025 Janice M. Lauer Institutional Achievement Award in Rhetoric & Composition […]

Costs associated with college aren’t trivial for Peyton Gire. For the Laramie County Community College (LCCC) sophomore in the Business & Accounting Pathway, the difference can be in the essentials. “The cost of college overall can add up quickly, especially if you are paying for housing, tuition and other fees,” he said. “Having that extra […]

Rick Verhaagen isn’t interested in a quiet retirement. A retired Naval Submarine Officer who served his country for 24 years, Verhaagen’s impressive career has taken him from the engine rooms of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to the halls of NATO headquarters and the nation’s top nuclear facilities. Now, he’s on a new mission: pursuing […]

The challenges faced by community college students compared to their “traditional” peers are well-documented. These learners are often older and derive from low-income or working-class backgrounds. They’re also more likely to be caretakers for children or aging parents, even as they’re the first members of their family to attend college. These familiar obstacles can generate […]