Community colleges and regional public universities already advance many of the reforms sought by the U.S. Education Department (ED), according to a joint statement by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
The statement responds to Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s August 3 “National Call to Action,” which urged colleges and universities to reaffirm their commitments to rigorous teaching, research and national service while addressing concerns related to admissions, free expression, affordability and public trust in higher education.
In their statement, AACC and AASCU noted that many of the secretary’s concerns are already central to the missions of community colleges and regional public universities. The associations noted that their institutions collectively enroll 68% of students attending U.S. public and nonprofit colleges and universities and have long emphasized affordability, student success, workforce preparation and public accountability.
“We are hopeful that future discussions will highlight that our community colleges and regional public universities are the institutions that have long been committed to rigorous teaching, national service and research that serves our communities and the country,” the organizations said.
In response to AACC’s queries to the department and other organizations’ questions about the Call to Action, ED will hold a webinar on August 19 for stakeholders.
The AACC/AASCU statement builds on comments made earlier this month by AACC President and CEO DeRionne Pollard, who said community colleges already exemplify many of the qualities highlighted in McMahon’s letter.
“We are open access, have affordable tuition and fees, sustain tight connections to business needs and are deeply trusted in our communities. Economic mobility for our graduates is a top priority,” Pollard said.
Different institutions, different missions
In their statement, AACC and AASCU contend that the critiques outlined in McMahon’s letter appear aimed primarily at institutions with missions that differ significantly from those of community colleges and regional universities. They said recognizing those distinctions is important to understanding the role their campuses already play in advancing national workforce and economic goals.
Addressing admissions, the groups pointed to the open-access nature of nearly all community colleges and the broad admissions policies common among regional public universities. They argued that the complex enrollment and financial aid practices often associated with highly selective institutions are generally absent from their campuses.
The statement also highlighted campus climate and free expression, emphasizing that community colleges and regional universities serve diverse populations and regularly foster a wide range of viewpoints. Leaders at those institutions, the associations said, work to cultivate environments that support civility, inclusion and academic success.
