Advocate during August recess
Each year, Congress takes August off so members can hear from constituents. The August recess is an important opportunity for community college leaders to connect with members of Congress, share the important work taking place on your campus and advocate for continued investment in the community college sector. We encourage campus leaders to arrange meetings with their members while they are home in their districts or states and to invite them to visit campus and meet community college students, faculty and staff.
In addition to building and strengthening relationships with members, the August recess provides a critical opportunity to advocate on behalf of community college legislative priorities. Congress continues to move slowly in advancing funding bills and avoiding a government shutdown on October 1. This delay gives community college leaders additional time to advocate for AACC funding priorities. Please refer to this document and discuss these programs during your conversations with your Congressional members.
More clarity on ED’s reporting requirements for GE/FVT, STATS framework
The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday released a new Electronic Announcement (EA) with information for colleges on reporting requirements under the current Gainful Employment/Financial Value Transparency (GE/FVT) framework and the forthcoming Student Tuition and Transparency (STATS) and Earnings Accountability framework.
The guidance reminds colleges of their responsibility to submit complete GE/FVT data for the 2024 and 2025 reporting cycles by January 15, 2027. According to the release, more than 1,900 institutions have not reported or underreported this data. Institutions that have not submitted are listed in a spreadsheet accompanying the EA. If an institution cannot submit complete information or take advantage of the transitional reporting option by the deadline, it must submit an explanatory statement to the Secretary.
The EA reminds institutions that the deadline to submit GE/FVT data for the 2026 cycle is October 1. The guidance details the process for submitting data and how colleges may elect to early implement the STATS accountability framework’s reporting instead.
ED will host an office hours session on September 10 from 3-4 p.m. ET focused on these reporting procedures.
AACC is interested in how community colleges are navigating the transition from GE/FVT to STATS reporting. Please respond to this email or contact AACC’s Office of Public Purpose and National Advocacy (formerly the Office of Government Relations) to share your experience.
AACC, AASCU issue joint statement in response to ED’s ‘Call to Action’
AACC and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities on Tuesday issued a formal statement in response to Secretary Linda McMahon’s “Call to Action” issued earlier this month.
In the statement, the associations highlight the collective impact of our institutions and our shared commitment to accessibility, affordability, transparency, strong outcomes, and civic and community development. In particular, the statement responds to items enumerated in the “Call to Action” around transparent admissions, free expression, intellectual pluralism and teaching, affordability and college costs, and return on investment for students at community colleges and state regional colleges and universities.
In response to feedback from AACC and other institutional stakeholders, ED will host a webinar on the Call to Action and potential institutional responses on August 19 at 10 a.m. ET.