July 6, 2020 | Issue # 166
I hope that you had a safe and happy July 4th holiday. With all of the stresses that many of you are under, it is important to practice self-care and to spend time with your loved ones. It appears that the coronavirus will be around for some time, so we must all be steadfast in protecting our students, staff, and communities.
This past week, I was pleased to work with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to convene two virtual meetings between the secretary and community college CEOs. The secretary was highly engaged and was extremely interested in how our colleges are responding to COVID-19. In addition, I was delighted to participate virtually in a meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board (AWPAB). Following the AWPAB meeting, the White House released this report on modernizing candidate recruiting, hiring, and training.
Throughout June, AACC held Zoom meetings with its commissions. I provided welcome comments to each of the commissions and was able to listen in on some meetings. Most commissioners spoke about their concerns about the 2020-2021 academic year. We are extremely grateful for the valuable input we received during these meetings. Each day we are learning more about the coronavirus, and I know these are issues that weigh on the minds of all community college leaders. AACC continues to elevate and amplify these very important discussions in the hopes that they may provide you with solutions to your challenges, or at a minimum provide you with some comfort that you are not in this situation alone.
“Heavy on Workforce Development”
A new report from Opportunity America calls on community colleges to focus more on workforce development to help displaced workers and others secure available jobs, especially as Americans have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Get the details in CC Daily.
Milwaukee Area Technical College is launching a debt scholarship program to help eligible returning students repay up to $1,500 of past-due balances owed the college for expenses such as tuition, books and other fees. Learn about it in the AACC 21st Century Center.
AACC Joins Court Action to Block Title IX Rule
AACC has cosigned an amicus brief that will be filed in two cases brought by state attorneys general challenging the Trump administration’s controversial Title IX regulations. The brief was spearheaded by the American Council on Education and cosigned by 24 other higher education associations. Absent a court order to the contrary, the regulations will take effect on August 14. Learn more here.
AACC has brokered an agreement for the nation’s community colleges that will allow your institution to secure much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) through a binding purchase order, which will initiate the full manufacturing, inspection and delivery of your order with cash On delivery (COD) payment terms. The PPE order deadline is July 8. Click here for more information.