March18, 2026 Workforce Pell grant regulations are continuing to evolve with the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) recent “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” now public. AACC is drafting its own response, which will be available to members early the week of March 23, so that campuses can elect to use them in their own submissions […]
Focus Forward, March 4, 2026
March 4, 2026 Last week, I was part of a panel at the American Council on Education (ACE), where the conversation touched on higher education as a public good and our sector’s need to reclaim our narrative value. There was also significant discussion of “radical collaboration”—building our muscles around working proactively with different kinds of […]
Focus Forward: February 18, 2026
February 18, 2026 “Community Colleges Need to Master the Art of Storytelling” was my piece published last week in WorkShift and contains some outstanding examples of our members’ workforce agility and national value. Three new federal funding opportunities are now available for competition: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the official announcement of funding […]
Focus Forward, February 4, 2026
February 4, 2026 Last week’s Workforce Development Institute drew 800 participants to 60 sessions! I was inspired by the creativity of our colleges and the commitment by so many industries to partnerships that advance our national workforce strengths. Another exciting opportunity is next week, immediately following the National Legislative Summit in DC. Seeding America’s Workforce […]
Focus Forward, January 21, 2026
January 21, 2026 As many colleges kick off the spring semester, I am reminded of the energy and excitement that comes with a new semester. I also remember extensive “To Do” lists, so I urge everyone to be thoughtful about balancing wellness with productivity. Several funding possibilities are on the horizon from the U.S. […]
Focus Forward, January 7, 2026
January 7, 2026 Happy new year, everyone. I hope you are energized as we launch into this new year. Workforce demands emerging across multiple industries are a critical focus for 2026 and AACC is working to amplify these narratives in Washington, DC, and across the country. Activity around apprenticeships is expanding quickly. Just yesterday, […]
Focus Forward, December 17, 2025
December 17, 2025 I am re-acclimating to the cold that comes to Washington, DC, in December, but the snow dusting didn’t impede my visits to Capitol Hill last week. In fact, my spirit was warmed by the praise I heard for community colleges during every visit. Four U.S. representatives were enthusiastic about the work […]
Focus Forward, December 3, 2025
December 3, 2025 Workforce Pell is front and center in Washington, DC, as formal negotiations begin on the regulations that will guide the implementation process and program functioning. We have several new tools that may help you navigate emerging developments, including some step-by-step infographics and details on what colleges should be doing to prepare. […]
Focus Forward, November 19, 2025
November 19, 2025 AACC is carefully tracking the impacts of yesterday’s interagency agreements between the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, Interior, Labor, and State. We are working diligently to understand how the changes may impact our colleges and will provide clarity as it becomes available. We are also closely monitoring […]
Focus Forward, November 5, 2025
November 5, 2025 As the federal government shutdown extends, more of our students may be affected. Please let us know any impacts your campuses may be experiencing so that AACC can continue reporting to Capitol Hill. We are particularly interested in any impacts on students that the cancelation of TRIO programs might be having and […]