March 19, 2021 | Issue # 183
This week’s racist attacks in Atlanta have been on everyone’s mind. AACC strongly condemns the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. We stand with the AAPI community and all marginalized people that continue to experience racism, hate, discrimination, and violence. We issued a statement on these racist attacks on Thursday, which you can read here.
There’s a lot happening in Washington, DC, this month. On March 11, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, which will provide more financial assistance to our colleges and students. The Rescue Plan allocates $39.6 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. We sent out an email on Monday with more information and a link to ACE’s institutional allocations.
At AACC, we’re continuing with our virtual Listening Tour and preparing for AACC Digital. You can learn more about AACC Digital in the “Must Know” section.
“No Quick Turnaround in Sight”
The dramatic enrollment declines that community colleges experienced in the fall will likely continue this spring, especially among students of color and males, according to preliminary data collected by the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center. Learn more in CC Daily.
The latest issue of Community College Journal has a Q&A with Dr. Anthony Rostain about the pandemic’s effect on mental health. Read the Q&A online here.
We’ve posted the 2021 Fast Facts, which will give you a snapshot of community colleges and the students served. Download Fast Facts here.
There are dozens of exciting, informative sessions in May as part of AACC Digital. You can view the whole schedule online now. Don’t miss out on this monthlong professional development opportunity—register now!
Congrats to the Awards of Excellence Finalists
This week, we announced the finalists for the AACC Awards of Excellence. Check out the full list here. Winners will be announced May 27 as part of AACC Digital.
Apply to Serve on an AACC Commission
There are nine commissions authorized by the AACC Board. You can now apply to serve on one of these commissions. The deadline for applications is May 31 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Check Out the Latest Episode of AACC’s Podcast
The latest episode of the Community College Voice podcast features an interview with Amarillo College President Russell Lowery-Hart. He talks about creating a culture of caring. Listen to the podcast here.
On March 8, members of the AACC Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and I participated in Virtual Listening Tour meetings with CEOs from Maryland and Louisiana.
On March 10, members of the ELT and I participated in a Virtual Listening Tour meeting with CEOs from New York.
On March 11, members of the ELT and I participated in a Virtual Listening Tour meeting with CEOs from Kentucky.