June 19, 2020 | Issue # 165
Despite our hopes, the coronavirus pandemic surges on. I know you all are making plans and back-up plans (and back-up plans for your back-up plans) for the fall semester. This week, I participated in an AACC webinar on how colleges will move forward with student success, equity, leadership, governance, and innovation and technology. If you listened in on the webinar, I hope you found it useful. If you missed it, you can check it out here. And you can be assured, this is a topic we’ll be revisiting in the weeks and months to come.
I want to thank the webinar participants: ACCT President and CEO Noah Brown, Center for Community College Student Engagement Executive Director Linda Garcia, League for Innovation President Rufus Glasper, NISOD Executive Director Edward Leach, Achieving the Dream President & CEO Karen Stout, and PTK Honor Society President & CEO Lynn Tincher-Ladner.
Over the past couple of weeks, our awareness has been heightened regarding the pain and hurt felt by the Black community due to systemic racism. We are also seeing increased violence toward members of the trans community. My greatest hope is that we emerge from the national protests having a plan to create the change that we all aspire to see in the world – change where all Americans are seen and treated with dignity and respect, where the playing field is level, and where everyone has equal access to the American Dream. In recognition of the charged climate in our communities and the great examples that we are seeing with activism, I have made the decision to close the AACC office today, June 19, or Juneteenth, as a day of learning for our employees. I have encouraged them to take the opportunity to learn about the origins of Juneteenth, and to figure out ways to contribute to the America that we all want to see. I would encourage you to use this as a day of learning as well.
“Collaborating on Social Justice, Equity”
In response to the murder of George Floyd, Wallace State Community College in Alabama is partnering with Hennepin Technical College in Minnesota to explore issues of racial justice and equity. Read about it in CC Daily.
New community college presidents have shown strong leadership during the pandemic. Learn about it in the latest issue of Community College Journal.
The Supreme Court has ruled to block the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This is good news for the many DREAMERS that attend community college. However, our work is not done. Read AACC’s statement on DACA.
Listen to the Latest CC Voice Podcast Episode
The newest episode of the Community College Voice podcast features a discussion on accreditation with Dr. Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Listen here.
Update Membership Information for the AACC Member Directory
We’re working on the 2020 AACC Member Directory. Please make sure we have the correct information for your institution. You can review the current contacts in the Community College Finder. To make updates, click here.