On July 12, 2017, AACC and ACCT submitted joint comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed negotiated rulemaking process on gainful employment and borrower defense repayment regulations. Following a review of the comments, the Department will announce the specific topics to be addressed by the negotiated rulemaking committees as well as a request for […]
Joint AACC-ACCT FY 2018 Funding Request
AACC and ACCT sent a joint letter to the House Appropriations Committee and Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee chairs and ranking members requesting their continued funding support for key community college federal programs.
House Approves Perkins CTE Reauthorization Bill
Yesterday, the House passed by voice vote legislation reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act. On May 17, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved unanimously its bipartisan bill, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2353. The measure is similar to the one […]
ED Issues Guidance on Implementing Year-Round Pell Grant
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has just issued guidance on implementation of the newly reinstated year-round Pell Grant. AACC has vigorously supported reinstatement of the year-round Pell Grant since its elimination in 2011. This provision that allows students to receive up to 150% of their scheduled Pell Grant award is effective beginning with the […]
DHS Affirms DACA Program Will Remain in Effect
A June 15 Department of Homeland Security memo states that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will remain in effect. The memo, for the most part, is concerned with rescinding an Obama administration initiative for undocumented parents of citizens or legal residents and an extension of the DACA program. Neither was ever implemented […]
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Apprenticeship
President Trump today signed an Executive Order aimed at increasing the availability of apprenticeship programs. The order instructs a number of federal agencies to promote the growth of apprenticeships and make related federal programs more effective. Community colleges have long played a substantial role in sponsoring and providing the educational component of registered apprenticeship programs. […]
AACC Supports Legislation to Expand Pell Grants
AACC President and CEO Walter Bumphus, along with ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown, has written a letter of endorsement for the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act to the House and Senate sponsors of the bill. The legislation would enhance the Pell Grant program in a number of ways long supported by AACC, […]
Trump Administration Releases FY 18 Budget Request
The Trump Administration yesterday released its FY 18 federal budget proposal, entitled A New Foundation for American Greatness. This is the President’s first full budget request, following a spending outline or so-called “skinny budget” released earlier this spring. The budget includes deep cuts to federal investments in education, job training and other community college priorities. […]
AACC Supports Senate Unit Record Data System Legislation
AACC has endorsed Senate legislation that would create a federal postsecondary education unit record data system, also linking it to post-college earnings. AACC has long supported legislation along these lines and is encouraged by this important development. Download the letter of support.
Funding Bill Reinstates Year-Round Pell Grants
In a major victory for community colleges and their students, the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill released today by Congress reinstates year-round Pell Grants beginning with the 2017-18 award year. Restoration of year-round Pell has been a top AACC priority since its elimination in FY 2011.The omnibus bill funds federal agencies through September 30. Starting […]