A GPS talent marketplace for opportunity
America doesn’t suffer from a shortage of pathways to opportunity. It suffers from a shortage of ways to help people navigate those pathways. Community colleges need to step up and play a central role in…
Technology
After Canvas: The architectural question higher ed has been avoiding
The Canvas breach didn’t fail because hackers got lucky. It failed because the architecture made it inevitable, and the standard response — patch, harden, audit, repeat — will produce the next breach on the same…
Reporter’s notebook
Student support services expand in Chicago system New learning lab ventures in VR Grants to grow mental health workforce in California Student support services expand in Chicago system City Colleges of Chicago and the student…
Strategy before technology
Across higher education, artificial intelligence (AI) is already present in classrooms, advising centers and students’ everyday lives. However, many learners have uneven experiences. In one course, the faculty encourages students to use AI tools to…
Community colleges are already the AI safe harbor
A safe harbor is where ships ride out a storm. It isn’t where the action is in fair weather, and it isn’t the most glamorous part of the coast. It’s the place that holds up…
Coverage of AACC 2026
Articles from the 2026 annual American Association of Community Colleges convention April 10-14 in Seattle. AACC’s bold new visionSEATTLE — The nation’s leading association for community colleges is embarking on a reset that will guide its work…
Reporter’s notebook
Senate bills aim to modernize apprenticeship system DOL tool to integrate AI into apprenticeships Aspen Prize semi-finalists announced Senate bills aim to modernize apprenticeship system Senate Republican leaders this week introduced two bills to expand…
12 student teams named 2026 CCIC finalists
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), on Tuesday announced the 12 finalist teams selected to advance to the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge…
Wayfinding leadership: From managing systems to navigating convergence
Recently, I watched Amy Webb take the stage at SXSW and deliver what she described as an eulogy. Not for a person. For her annual trends report. Her message was simple and precise: we are…
Pay-for-performance: A new frontier for apprenticeship funding
While apprenticeships are surging in popularity — bolstered by a 2025 executive order aiming for one million new federal registered apprenticeships — some experts suggest that tying funding to results could be the key to…