April 5, 2019 | Issue # 135
By this time next week, I’ll be in Orlando for the 99th Annual AACC Convention. We’ve got more than 150 sessions scheduled, including a Super Spotlight session on Sunday, April 14, that will focus on the new Expanding Community College Apprenticeships (ECCA) initiative, as well as innovative community college/industry partnerships. Fifty-minute Spotlight sessions will take place throughout the day on April 15 and will examine, among other topics, Guided Pathways, information security strategies, and best practices in college readiness.
See you in Orlando for our time in the sun!
“Ditching Placement Tests Yields Promising Results”
Relying on high school transcripts rather than placement tests has led to many more students enrolling in and passing gatekeeper courses at Guam Community College. Learn more in CC Daily.
“Tackling the Price of Textbooks”
More colleges are working to lower the cost of textbooks for students. Read more at the AACC 21st Century Center.
Haven’t registered for the AACC Annual Convention yet? General registration is still open online. Tickets are no longer available for the Hail & Farewell Luncheon, the Awards of Excellence Gala, and the David R. Pierce Outstanding Alumni Brunch, though there is a waitlist in case additional tickets do become available. Contact the registrar by April 9 to get on the waitlist. Registration for pre-convention sessions also is closed. Lastly, please note that the Orlando World Center Marriott is sold out over the convention dates, but click here for information on hotels in proximity to the World Center.
Congratulations to the Aspen Prize Winners
This week, Indian River State College and Miami Dade College were named the 2019 winners of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Congratulations to Drs. Edwin Massey and Eduardo Padrón on this well-deserved honor! And congratulations to the three Rising Star colleges (Odessa College, Pierce College Fort Stellacoom, and Palo Alto College). Also included as Aspen Prize top 10 finalists were Broward College, Kingsborough Community College, Mitchell Technical Institute, Pasadena City College, and San Jacinto College.
Registration is now open for the 2019 Presidents Academy Summer Institute. Join us July 13–16 in Atlanta, Georgia, as we focus on issues of critical importance to success in the role of the community college president.
On March 24 and 25, I participated in the AACC/AASA, Association of School Superintendents, joint convening on college readiness. Pictured with me are U.S. Education Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Casey Sacks and AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech