September 30, 2026
AACC’s new opens in a new windowpublic service announcement on the value of community colleges in our nation is now live. A opens in a new windowsocial media kit for sharing is available, and colleges with public, educational, and governmental access television channels may want to offer the two-minute message for programming. This week begins regular, regional public information officer calls and details will be provided to those communications officers who attend virtually.
The U.S. Department of Labor opens in a new windowannounced last week that $65 million in grants will help community colleges to develop high-quality, short-term programs that can qualify for Workforce Pell Grants. This sixth round of Strengthening Community College Training Grants (SCCTG) will benefit consortia in seven states and 102 consortia members.
opens in a new windowFormal comments were submitted last week in response to the Education Department’s (ED) proposed accreditation regulations. AACC supports the proposal’s transfer-of-credit provisions, which would require institutions to explain why credits are not accepted, but opposes several other provisions regarding cost-benefit analysis and enforcement of intellectual diversity and First Amendment provisions.
AACC also opens in a new windowsubmitted comments on the proposed rule from ED that would modify grant-making processes. Similar to the proposed OMB Guidance rule, the ED rule would inject a greater degree of subjectivity into the grant-making process and prioritize institutions that agree to a lower indirect cost rate.
The opens in a new windowOklahoma Association of Community Colleges is on my Friday speaking schedule and two statistics stand out: Oklahoma has the highest transfer out rate in the nation—42%—according to the Community College Research Center ( opens in a new windowTracking Transfer: State-by-State Outcomes). In addition, an impressive 92% of Oklahoma’s community college degrees align with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s Critical Occupations List. I’m listening intently for any lessons I might convey to peer colleges from these successes.
Speaking of momentum, Workforce Pell is picking up speed with community colleges in Texas and North Carolina added to the approval list, now totaling colleges in five states.
Entrepreneurial students have a special opportunity through the opens in a new windowAmerica’s Startup – America250 competition. Journalism faculty also have a unique chance to help close news deserts with support from the opens in a new windowCenter for Community News. Please share these opportunities with the right people at your colleges.
Even more good news: opens in a new windowrecent polling showed extraordinarily favorable rankings for community colleges across people of diverse political leanings. I was buoyed by the inclusion of our colleges in this analysis, which was a new component this year.
Lastly, an excellent leadership opportunity is service on the AACC board. The deadline to opens in a new windowsubmit nominations to be included on 2027 Board of Directors slate is October 9.