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Gov. Pritzker signs college access and affordability bills into laws WICS The legislative package, which includes HB 2967, HB 3096, HB 3097 and HB 3522, was signed in collaboration with the Illinois Board of Higher…
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Creating a positive culture on campus
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Commencement season is upon us, and I will admit that it was always one of my favorite events on campus. Graduation was an annual reminder of the…
Community colleges as engines for economic development
For more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how community colleges change lives. I began my career as an adjunct sociology instructor at a large urban-suburban community college. Today, I serve as vice president for…
Washington Watch: Hope remains for workforce Pell
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 8 a.m. on June 30, 2025. The Senate parliamentarian has approved a modified version of workforce Pell provisions in the budget reconciliation bill that the Senate Budget Committee…
Snapshots
Photos from institutional members of the American Association of Community Colleges. Krista Kiessling (left), director of the Owens Community College Center for Campus and Community Connections, and Owens student Mike Young at the college’s beehives on…
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Wisconsin budget could give a slight boost to tech colleges Cap Times The Wisconsin Technical College System is asking lawmakers for a $45 million boost in state money over the next two years. But the…
Lumina aims to help rural colleges reach adult learners
A new initiative spearheaded by Lumina Foundation aims to help rural and semi-rural community colleges reach and enroll more adult learners. Lumina is working with CollegeAPP and StrategyForward Advisors to help six selected colleges over…
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What’s new for the 2026–27 FAFSA form? Beta launch, smarter virtual assistant, and more Homeroom (U.S. Education Department blog) The 2026–27 FAFSA, which the U.S. Education Department plans to release by October 1, comes with…
Washington Watch: Workforce Pell dealt major blow in reconciliation bill
The Senate parliamentarian has determined that provisions in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill that would establish workforce Pell grants do not comply with the rules governing the budget reconciliation process, according to material released by…
Persistence, retention drop among older students
While overall persistence and retention rates have remained relatively flat among community college students who entered in fall 2023, the rates for older learners show big drops, according to a new report from the National…