January 17, 2020 | Issue # 154
I love having the opportunity to celebrate excellence in our sector. That’s part of the reason I started the AACC Awards of Excellence program in 2012. This week, we announced the finalists for the 2020 Awards of Excellence. You can learn more in the “Must Know” section.
In other news, I’m heading to Amelia Island, Florida, next week for the 2020 Workforce Development Institute. I look forward to seeing some of you there, and to meeting with leaders from industry, the federal agencies, and foundations. The theme of this year’s WDI is “Economic Innovators,” and that perfectly describes community colleges.
“Senate Bill Focuses on Rural Students”
A bipartisan Senate bill would create a $60 million pilot program to help rural students attain their higher education goals and connect with local job opportunities. Read about the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act in CC Daily.
“Making Counseling Convenient”
A California college provides easier access to counselors for students with Ask a Counselor sessions. Learn more at the AACC 21st Century Center.
AACC Awards of Excellence Finalists Announced
We’ve announced the finalists for the 2020 Awards of Excellence, which recognize exceptional work among the nation’s 2-year colleges. Check out the list here. The winners of each category will be announced at the convention.
The Return of the Community College Innovation Challenge
Led by AACC, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) is a prestigious competition where community college student teams, working with a faculty or administrator mentor, use STEM to innovate solutions to real-world problems, earn travel support to attend an Innovation Boot Camp, and compete for cash awards. Click here for more information. The deadline to apply is March 31.
The election for the 2020 AACC Board of Directors will take place February 3–29. The slate including all individuals running for the board is available now on the AACC website. The designee for each eligible member institution will receive an email on January 31 which includes username and password information needed for voting. Ballots will be emailed to each member on February 3 from aacc@simplyvoting.com. If you have a particularly strong spam filter, please contact your IT staff in advance so that they can add the email extension to your white list of emails that you can receive.
Want to get a sense of the innovation in the community college space, but you’re short on time? Sign up for the opportunity to visit with several vendors in a short period of time. Speed networking will take place on Saturday, March 28, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Each CEO and vice president that signs up for speed networking will receive a custom sunglass fitting from Maui Jim (approximate value of $199). Speed networking is followed by a reception for all vendors and community college leaders. Space is limited for this opportunity, so sign up today! Notifications of individuals selected to participate will go out in mid-February.
The 2020 Presidents Academy Summer Institute will be held July 11–14 in Dana Point, California. This institute focuses on issues of critical importance to success in the role of the community college president. Register now online.
On January 15, AACC staff and I met with the Chief Learning Office, Department of the Navy John Kroger, and Learning Analyst Joel Carter to discuss ways that AACC could support the U.S. Navy in its implementation of the new Naval Community College.