HOW AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES SAVES THE DATE, FALL ENROLLMENTS ARE UP, ...
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Posted By: agnes levine on August 22, 2025 For Immediate Release From American Association of Community Colleges! (A Ten-Minute Read) ABOUT AACC ANNUAL Since 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has been the go-to organization for the nation’s predominately associate degree-granting regionally accredited institutions. The association hosts one of the largest convenings of community college professionals and offers engaging speakers, relevant professional development, and unsurpassed networking opportunities. AACC Annual provides access to the nation’s community college leaders who collectively serve more than 40 percent of the nation’s undergraduates. AACC Annual creates opportunities to design and solve today’s priority challenges and to identify opportunities and innovation to support the country’s community college students. **** AACC and The School Superintendents Association (AASA) host convenings of community college and K-12 leaders to discuss college and career readiness for the nation’s students. Critical to advancing high-impact, collaborative strategies to improve and expand bridges between secondary and post-secondary education, the convenings capture promising practices from K-12 and community college partners. AACC and AASA remain committed to further develop and strengthen a relationship focused on authentic collaboration in support of positively impacting the needs of students throughout their educational career. AACC and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, hosted a convening of community college and K-12 leaders October 12-14, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Learn more HERE: https://www.aacc.nche.edu/events/community... **** Expanding Community College Apprenticeships The Expanding Community College Apprenticeships (ECCA) initiative was led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to increase the number of apprentice programs and services throughout the country. The ECCA project was conducted over 3 years to train 16,000 apprentices. Virtual Apprenticeship Network opens in a new windowAdvisory board members opens in a new windowParticipant colleges Learn more HERE: https://www.aacc.nche.edu/programs/workfor... **** Artificial Intelligence Incubator Network The Artificial Intelligence Incubator Network Initiative is managed by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) with funding from Dell Technologies and Intel. This 18-month initiative aims to design and build Artificial Intelligence (AI) Incubators across the country utilizing the expertise and industry-connections of America’s community college system. AACC believes that AI has become an increasingly important and relevant field of study across multiple occupational areas and industry sectors. AI Incubators (physical or virtual) can be solution centers for the community and a talent pool for the local labor market. Community colleges can learn from their peers through this network at a faster rate than if they tackled this topic alone. All colleges seeking to participate in this work developing and strategizing how to incorporate AI learning content into their courses and learning pathways into their institutions are welcomed. Participating colleges are part of a national dialogue and have access to a set of coordinated resources including with the following: AI Incubator Network discussions led by AACC once per month in one of three cohorts: Cohort A: Colleges seeking to design and build an AI Incubator as a physical laboratory on the campus Cohort B: Colleges seeking to design and build an AI Incubator in a virtual platform Cohort C: Colleges seeking to design and build a hybridized AI Incubator in both virtual and on-campus scenarios Learn more HERE: https://www.aacc.nche.edu/programs/workfor... **** AACC’s Office of Government Relations (OGR) represents the needs of the nation’s community colleges and their students to federal policymakers. The association’s government relations agenda covers a broad array of issues impacting community colleges. Advocacy Updates AACC Request for Action on House Budget Reconciliation Legislation Learn more HERE: https://www.aacc.nche.edu/advocacy-v2/ ******** How Will Fall Enrollments Look? With many community colleges still preparing to start their fall terms and many students in the process of registering for classes, it’s too soon to get solid numbers on fall enrollments at community colleges. But some two-year colleges are already sharing their numbers and, anecdotally, it looks like it’s shaping up to be another strong fall for the sector. Among the colleges with fresh data is North Carolina’s Johnston Community College (JCC), which started classes this week. It reports that its fall enrollment has hit a record, achieving its highest-ever curriculum headcount. On the first day of classes, JCC welcomed 6,513 degree-seeking students, marking a 15% increase over last fall and a 61% growth in curriculum enrollment since 2021, according to the college. It’s the sixth straight semester of double-digit percentage increases. JCC noted that it has also seen a record high in its dual enrollment, with 2,038 high school students taking courses this fall. Officials said JCC’s growth is a result of several factors, including strategic investments in marketing and technology, innovative approaches to student engagement, and the continued impact of the Johnston County Commissioners’ Promise, a last-dollar scholarship program for recent high school graduates. “We are thrilled to welcome the largest class of new and returning students JCC has ever seen,” President Vern Lindquist said in a release. “These numbers reflect the trust our community places in us, the value of our programs and the determination of students who are shaping their futures right here in Johnston County.” Officials at Austin Community College (ACC) are also crediting enrollment increases to its free tuition pilot program for recent high school graduates. About 4,600 more students have enrolled for classes this fall compared to last fall, representing a 15% increase, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Last fall, when the pilot launched, enrollment jumped 40%, according to the college. ACC is also ensuring students have their basic needs met even before classes begin on August 25. The college expanded and opened its free, on-campus food pantries at all eleven campuses a week earlier on August 18. They are open to all students, faculty and staff. A recent survey of ACC students found 48% are food insecure, yet 51% didn’t know food pantries were available on campus, according to the college. Read the full article HERE: https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/08/how-will-f... ******** One Obstacle Away From Opting Out A new report highlights the tight rope community colleges walk when it comes to onboarding students before they even begin classes, with more than half of them nearly quitting because of various obstacles, such as slow responses and uncertainty about career goals. It also observes that staff are often stretched thin in meeting students’ expectations. Education consultant EAB surveyed 1,000 community college students to gauge what they see as obstacles during onboarding. Faster replies to inquiries and more effective onboarding were key factors for students. Fifty-six percent of polled students indicated they nearly quit before classes began, citing a mix of financial strain, confusion and a lack of personal connection. About a quarter (24%) of participating students said they were frustrated by the enrollment process itself, and another 24% noted uncertainty about choosing a major as a barrier. Concerns about how to pay for college (19%) and personal responsibilities, such as work or family obligations (23%) and mental health (21%), were also reported as hurdles. Nearly 18% said they simply didn’t feel like they would belong in college at all. “These numbers make it clear that every step of the onboarding journey must be as simple, supportive, and responsive as possible,” the report says. “If colleges want to keep students from slipping away, they must address these stress points with clear guidance, proactive outreach, and tools that make help feel immediate and personal.” Quicker Responses, Tighter Connections A closer look at the answers highlights common disconnects between students and colleges, in particular, with student services staff. When students were asked how long it took to hear back when they first requested information, more than a third of students (35%) said they received a response within three days, but 27% waited over a week, and 7% said they never heard back at all. Yet when asked how quickly they anticipated a college to reply if they had a question about the enrollment process, the expectations were far more immediate: 17% said they expected a response immediately, 27% wanted one within a few hours and 29% expected an answer within 24 hours. Altogether, nearly three-quarters of students (73%) expected a response within a day — far faster than what many colleges are delivering, the report says. Read the full article HERE: https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/08/one-obstac... ******** Washington Watch: A New Process For Awarding Federal Grants The Trump administration this month published a far-reaching executive order outlining new policies and procedures for awarding federal grants. The August 7 order requires all federal agencies to designate senior political officials as responsible for reviewing all discretionary grant opportunities. The duties of those appointees will include: Vetting proposed grant announcements prior to publication Ensuring that the program aligns with administration priorities Formally coordinating with the Office of Management and Budget The oversight will apply to new awards as well as grant renewals. The order will still permit peer reviews but they will no longer be dispositive in all cases. The mandatory engagement of political personnel in the grantmaking process could change it dramatically, though each administration has generally found ways to emphasize its priorities in allocating funds. The new centralizing order adds new layers and processes in reviewing grants for specific goals before the administration approves a new grant or continuation of a grant. It further requires each agency to create a process to review all grantmaking to be “consistent with agency priorities and the national interest.” Many of these priorities won’t likely be reflected in the legislation that authorized the funding. Under the order, executive branch agencies must incorporate “termination-for-convenience” clauses in their grant agreements and restrict grantees’ access to funds unless they are specifically approved. As a result, agencies may gain much greater discretion to cancel grants before their completion. Administrative burdens will also likely grow, including more stringent approval processes for fund disbursements and project renewals. The process change may explain why many community colleges are still waiting to receive continuation grants for the current fiscal year, while in several cases notifications still haven’t been sent out for new FY 2025 competitions. The urgency of this situation grows as the fiscal year’s end on September 30 draws near. AACC encourages its members to inform the association of any unusual delays or complications with the grantmaking process. ******** Ever Green As the Trump administration seeks to roll back or end federal investment in clean energy technologies, community college leaders may be wondering what impact these changes will have on the future of sustainability initiatives and green jobs training programs. A 2022 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected strong job growth in occupations related to renewable energy sources and conserving natural resources over the next several years. For instance, the number of technician jobs for servicing wind turbines was expected to increase by 68%, from 2020 to 2030, resulting in 4,700 new positions in this field. The number of solar photovoltaic installers was predicted to rise by 52% during this period, yielding 6,100 additional jobs. However, those projections were made before Donald Trump took office again this year. This article comes from the new issue of the Community College Journal, the bimonthly magazine of the American Association of Community Colleges. With the help of measures such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Biden administration claimed to have overseen the creation of more than 400,000 clean energy jobs in four years — and in 2023, this sector reportedly grew at twice the rate of the overall economy. In contrast, Trump has used executive orders to cancel billions of dollars in grants for green energy projects already appropriated by Congress, and the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July (known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) eliminates green energy tax credits and other incentives. These moves severely curtail federal investment in environmentally friendly technologies. Despite these changes, executives at colleges with green jobs training programs believe there will still be a strong demand for these initiatives. Renewable energy sources and energy reduction programs save consumers money, they argue, and state and local incentives to invest in these technologies still remain in many communities. What’s more, the line between traditional and green jobs training is disappearing as even traditional energy systems become more highly efficient. Read the full article HERE: https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/08/ever-green... ******** Washington Watch: Potential Exemption From New Data Reporting Requirements Community colleges could be exempt from most of the new transparency and reporting requirements of college admissions data, as directed by a presidential memorandum issued last week. According to an Education Department (ED) document to be published Friday in the Federal Register, open-access institutions, such as community colleges, “have minimal or no risk for civil rights noncompliance in admissions,” opening the door for possible exemption. In the unpublished information collection request (ICR), ED lays out its vision for a new admissions data collection system, to be called the “Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement” (ACTS) survey. It will require all selective colleges and universities to report applied, admitted and enrolled cohorts by race-sex pair, further disaggregated by test scores, GPA, family income, Pell Grant eligibility, parental education and more. ACTS will also require colleges to report the count and average amount of students receiving institutional grant aid, merit-based grant aid, need-based grant aid and local, state or federal aid by race-sex pair. Colleges also will be expected to report data from the past five years to establish a baseline of admissions and aid practices. This represents a significant increase in both reporting to the federal government and, for many colleges and universities, data collection on students altogether. It is not yet clear how institutions will be expected to gain access to and report all the data mentioned in the ICR and how to shield personally identifiable information in small, disaggregated cohorts. Although it appears open-access institutions may be exempt, the ICR asks whether the institutions should still be required to report financial aid information to prove that they are not illegally considering race in awarding aid. The American Association of Community Colleges will communicate that community colleges are not engaging in illegal discrimination in the awarding of institutional aid and that subjecting campuses to this increased reporting would be unnecessary and unduly burdensome. ******** Reimagining Postsecondary Pathways: Apprenticeship Degrees Over the past decade, apprenticeship degrees have created affodable pathways into various occupations, ranging from cybersecurity to the skilled trades. These programs address the talent gap in middle-skill jobs and offer students early exposure to career options, advancing equity and access for diverse learner populations. The need for apprenticeship programs is increasingly evident. A 2024 Strada Education Foundation survey found that fewer than half of Americans believe a college degree justifies its cost, and even fewer are confident it leads to meaningful employment. Simultaneously, employers face challenges finding candidates with the skills required to fill open positions. In this environment, apprenticeship degrees offer a compelling alternative — blending academic knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. Community college students are a diverse group: working adults, first-generation college goers and individuals seeking clear returns on their educational investments. For community colleges, apprenticeship degrees represent pedagogical innovation and a strategic response to shifting enrollment patterns and performance-based funding. By aligning programs with labor market demands, colleges can deliver high-impact, high-value offerings that support student aspirations while strengthening regional workforces. Community colleges and the growth of apprenticeships Community colleges have long responded to labor market needs by aligning programs with industry demand, preparing many underserved students for transfer and career pathways. Embedded within their communities, these colleges leverage strong partnerships with local employers, state agencies and other educational institutions — positioning them to expand apprenticeship opportunities and drive inclusive workforce development. Across the country, numerous community colleges are launching and growing apprenticeship programs in diverse sectors such as information technology, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality and the traditional construction trades. According to Apprenticeships for America, community college sponsors with active apprentices have steadily grown — from just 30 in 2016 to over 200 by 2023. States play an active and strategic role in expanding apprenticeship programs by directly investing in employers and educational institutions, coordinating across multiple agencies and leveraging federal funding. Through targeted grants and initiatives, such as Texas’s TIRA grant, Alabama’s statewide Office of Apprenticeship and Michigan’s State Apprenticeship Expansion grants, states are increasing the number and diversity of apprenticeship opportunities. These efforts streamline program development, foster collaboration between the workforce and education partners, and ensure that apprenticeships reach underserved populations. By prioritizing funding, cross-agency coordination and partnerships with employers, states such as Illinois, Indiana, and Maryland make apprenticeships a central pathway to workforce development and economic mobility. Redefining the value Beyond program expansion, apprenticeship degrees have transformed the definition of educational value. Rather than focusing solely on credit hours or classroom time, these programs emphasize what students can do and integrate workplace competencies with academic learning. Below are some examples: Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College has developed one of the most extensive apprenticeship programs in the country, with approximately 8,000 apprentices in construction and 1,500 in manufacturing and healthcare. Apprenticeships are embedded in academic pathways; therefore, students earn credit for classroom- and work-based learning. City Colleges of Chicago built district-wide infrastructure through the CAP-IT initiative to support IT apprenticeships. Students combine classroom instruction with structured, paid and work-based learning at employer sites, earning academic credit and industry credentials. Read the full article HERE: https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/08/reimaginin... VISIT: https://www.facebook.com/CommCollege Check out: https://www.pinterest.com/levineoliverpub/... and use these handy hashtags here: #AgnesLevine, #LevineOliverPublisherInc., #(K-LOP), #mentalillnessrecoverysuccess, #BipolarDisorder, #MajorDepression, #Schizophrenia, #GunViolenceFree, #AnxietyDisorder, #Sobernation #BlackCatholics If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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agnes levine
Part-Time Teacher, Baltimore County Public Schools Member Since August 2008 |
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