November 29, 2021 | Issue # 201
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Despite the challenges we’ve all faced this year, my family and I have had so much to be grateful for in 2021. I wish the same for you and your family.
The end of the year is quickly approaching. Maybe you’re looking at the goals you created at the start of 2021. Maybe there are a couple goals you haven’t quite completed. With so much chaos in our world, it’s easy to get pulled in other directions or even to lose some of your momentum. That’s okay. Take a moment to reset and look at all you did get done. Celebrate your accomplishments and celebrate the team that helped you along the way. Then move forward. As you all know, this is not a sprint – it’s a marathon. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and you’ll be unstoppable.
Speaking of goals, I’ve included an abridged version of my goals for 2022 in the “Must Know” section.
“Some Hope in First-Time Enrollments?”
New data show there is an uptick this fall among first-time nontraditional students. Enrollments for first-time students among older learners have increased, by as much as 19.2% for those over age 29. Get more information in this CC Daily article.
“Celebrating First-Generation College Students”
Northeast Community College in Nebraska recognized its first-generation students with an event earlier this month, and continues to build supports for them. Learn more in the AACC 21st Century Center blog.
AACC President & CEO Goals for 2022
I want to make you aware of my goals for 2022. I’ve shortened them for purposes of this newsletter.
- Launch a cutting-edge innovation center to position the association as a thought leader in addressing trends and issues impacting community colleges.
- Complete a new economic impact study that shows the value that community colleges make to the nation’s workforce and economy.
- Work with the Biden Administration, federal agencies, and Congress to elevate the community college agenda.
- Develop new and strengthen existing relationships with philanthropic organizations.
- Continue to pursue federal funding for institutions and students, as well as work with federal agencies that provide grant funding to support the nation’s community colleges.
- Continue to focus on association operations, including elevating member value for AACC and maintaining AACC’s position as the thought-leader and voice of community colleges.
Deadline Extended for Call for Proposals
We’ve extended the deadline for the AACC Annual Call for Proposals to December 31. Submit a session proposal for AACC Annual so you can share your innovations with other practitioners. Click here to get more details.
In addition to the AACC Awards of Excellence and Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition, we’ve launched new awards to recognize exceptional leaders. We encourage you to nominate someone for the CEO of the Year, Faculty Member of the Year, and Trustee of the Year awards. The deadline for nominations is December 31, at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Help Us Revise the Competencies for Community College Leaders
AACC is undertaking the fourth revision of the Competencies for Community College Leaders. Association staff will lead virtual meetings of affinty groups to receive targeted input regarding the competencies and the skills needed post-pandemic and for the future. The affinty groups include: Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Zers, African American, Latino/Latinx, Asian Pacific Islanders, Indigenous, LGBTQ, faculty and mid-managers (executive directors, directors, chairs, deans). We also want to hear from new and seasoned CEOs, and senior leaders. Virtual meetings will begin in early December and will wrap up in late January. Sign up to contribute to the conversation. The deadline to express interest is 5:00 p.m. on December 3.
The 2022 AACC Annual will be held April 30–May 3 in New York, NY. Registration is now open. Keynote speakers include Stephanie Land, author of MAID, and David and Jonah Stillman, a father and son Gen X / Gen Z speaking team. All attendees must be fully vaccinated and be prepared to show proof of vaccination, and a daily negative health screening questionnaire to participate in AACC Annual.
Listen to the CC Voice Podcast
In the latest episode of CC Voice, we talk with Dr. John “Ski” Sygielski, president of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, and Dr. Linnie Carter, vice president of college advancement at HACC and executive director of the HACC Foundation. They discuss how foundations and philanthropy are working to advance student success at HACC.