September 14, 2018 | Issue # 122
This week, we at AACC have all been closely watching the approach of Hurricane Florence. For those in its path, the coming days, weeks, and months may bring struggles. AACC stands ready to assist the colleges impacted. Please stay safe and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
We are not past the peak of hurricane season yet. I learned a lot of lessons from Hurricane Katrina, and, with Dr. Angel M. Royal, shared those lessons in a chapter for the book Hoping for the Best While Preparing for the Worst: Disasters, Emergencies, and the Community College. You can read that chapter here.
“The Power of CTE—For Our students, For Our Country”
Ongoing job growth creates a skills gap for business and industry. It also presents a “sweet spot” for community colleges, partly because of the diversity of our students and because of our expertise with career technical education. Read the rest of this commentary piece in CC Daily.
Lack of accessible transportation is a barrier for many students. One New York college is trying to remove that barrier. Find out more at the AACC 21st Century Center.
There is good news on the just-finalized FY 2019 Labor-HHS-ED appropriations bill. The bill’s highlight for community colleges is a $100 increase in the Pell Grant maximum award, to $6,195, for the 2019-20 award year. Perkins State Grants were hiked $70 million and adult basic education saw a $25 million increase. Title III-A, Strengthening Institutions, and Title V, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, received small increases. TRIO and GEAR-UP programs were bumped up by $50 million and $10 million, respectively. Funding for most Department of Labor training programs was flat. The department’s apprenticeship grants program received an increase of $15 million, to $160 million. The bill will be considered by the Senate next week and the House the week after that. Learn more in CC Daily, and stay tuned for updates.
Interested in serving on the AACC Board of Directors? The nomination period is now open. The nomination guidelines are available here. The deadline for all nominations is October 5, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Share your knowledge at the 99th AACC Annual Convention. The Call for Proposals is now open. AACC is seeking proposals that reflect the best thinking in the field informed by outcomes that demonstrate success. Please carefully read the guidelines before submitting your proposal. Deadline to submit: October 31, 5:00 p.m. (ET). The convention will take place April 13–16, 2019, in Orlando, Florida.
Submit Nominations for AACC Awards
You now can submit nominations for several of AACC’s awards—Outstanding Alumni and Leadership Awards, Distinguished Faculty, and the Awards of Excellence. Awards will be presented at AACC’s convention.
Highlights
On September 5, I met with Rep. Bobby Scott to discuss how the Aim Higher Act can help community college students.
On September 6, I visited with Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.
See more of Where’s Walter.