October 29, 2021 | Issue # 199
Yesterday, we sent out a joint statement with ACCT about the new Build Back Better Act framework. The framework devotes $40 billion in higher education and workforce programs and includes features that are tremendously important to community colleges and students, including increases to the maximum Pell grant award. We’re celebrating this win.
That doesn’t mean we’re not disappointed that tuition-free community college was cut out of the legislation. But it’s not the end. This is a long game. We’ll keep fighting to remove barriers to higher education.
“Community Colleges Step into Teacher Ed Breach”
The demand for teachers in the United States exceeded the supply by more than 100,000 in 2019 for the first time ever. Community colleges are gearing up to meet that demand, launching or expanding teacher education programs. Read about it in CC Daily.
More community colleges are moving forward with developing student housing. Learn how they’re going about it in the latest issue of Community College Journal.
Submit Session Proposals for AACC Annual
The call for proposals for AACC Annual (previously called the AACC Annual Convention) is now open. AACC is seeking proposals that focus on one singular topic; feature a program, service, or organizational change to your institution as a result of COVID-19 or other trends and issues impacting 2-year colleges; highlight significant impact on closing equity and achievement gaps; show measurable quantifiable outcome(s); take an old concept and create something new to better address a current problem; show the ingenuity of the college in difficult circumstances. More details are here. The deadline to submit a proposal is December 1. All attendees must be fully vaccinated to attend the annual meeting.
The AACC Awards of Excellence and Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction applications are now being accepted. Do you have a program, or person that has made or continues to make a difference in the lives of students? Submit an application. The deadline for submissions is December 1. View all the Awards of Excellence categories in the “Awards” drop-down menu. Today also is the last day to submit Outstanding Alumni Award nominations.
Register for the Next Peer-to-Peer Session
Want to connect with other community college presidents and share best practices and challenges? AACC has launched a monthly online meeting called Peer-to-Peer. It allows member CEOs to spend an hour talking about one topic. This is not a seminar or webinar. It’s just a small group of presidents talking. The next Peer-to-Peer meeting will be November 10 at 2:00 p.m. (ET) over Zoom. The topic will be “Recruitment and Retention of Talent.” Space is limited. Register here.
Colin Powell was an American hero, a pragmatist, and an all-around great human being. The four-star general and first Black secretary of state died on October 18. One of the highlights of my career was meeting him when he spoke at the AACC Annual Convention in 2014. He greeted me with warmth and humor. I knew I was in the presence of greatness. Thank you, Gen. Powell, for your service and commitment to our country.