Unlocking rural potential
NEW ORLEANS — A year ago, Tyson Foods closed a meat-processing facility in Emporia, Kansas, laying off 800 employees in a community of 24,000. Flint Hills Technical College (FHTC), which was part of a local…
Academic programs
It’s all about jobs
NEW ORLEANS — $66,000. That’s the ambitious living-wage target that Arapahoe Community College (ACC) has set for its programs, whether in academics or workforce development. It illustrates that everything that the Colorado college does is…
Approps package includes $170M in earmarks for community colleges
More than 110 community colleges across the country would receive thousands of dollars for special projects through the fiscal year 2026 appropriations package passed by the House last week. Lawmakers would send more than $170…
How AI can transform student creativity, strategic thinking
Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from novelty to inevitability in higher education. Students are already using AI tools, sometimes productively, sometimes problematically, often without clear guidance from faculty. The question is no longer whether…
A call to community college student innovators
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), today launches its platform to advance student innovation and impact in STEM through the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). The…
Wanted: CDL students and instructors
While artificial intelligence has moved in on certain types of entry-level jobs, driverless trucking doesn’t seem likely to become a reality anytime soon, certainly not judging by the number of community colleges that have their…
Rethinking the community college’s role in the new economy
Community colleges have historically served as engines of regional economic development, drawing on strong community integration to translate labor market needs into accessible education. However, rapid technological change and the decline of entry-level jobs now…
Navigating the AI revolution
The final months of 2025 brought an unprecedented opportunity to immerse myself in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Through three distinct conferences, each offering unique perspectives on AI’s role in…
Meeting the rural care crisis
Throughout her 18-year nursing career, Mara Poynter has gained invaluable experience across a variety of treatment styles. From big-city critical care in Atlanta, to a stint as a flight nurse in San Antonio, Poynter understands…
Fixing the transfer process
Community colleges are widely recognized as the most affordable entry point into U.S. higher education. They enroll half of all undergraduates at some point in their academic journeys and serve as the primary access pathway…