Bracing for impact
America is headed for a labor shortage crisis in the coming years, and we may not even be aware of it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. employed population is…
Commentary
Washington Watch: AACC asks members to respond to IPEDS information request
A new admissions data collection system proposed by the U.S. Education Department (ED) would result in a significant increase in reporting to the federal government and, for community colleges, data collection on students altogether. In…
Staying the course on reforms
In the decade since Redesigning America’s Community Colleges was published, we have had the privilege of studying the efforts by community colleges nationwide to implement whole-college reforms based on the guided pathways model it proposed….
Three key elements of transformative leadership
As college administrators, we face a range of challenges, from moderate to very stormy situations. Inheriting a department, division or even an entire institution that is essentially in “good order” will require applying solid administrative…
Enrollments are up, but can students afford to stay?
College enrollment has finally recovered, thanks in large part to the surge in enrollment at community colleges. Two-year career and technical education (CTE) programs are feeling this growth acutely with some of the largest enrollment…
Washington Watch: ED begins rulemaking on reconciliation loan changes
The U.S. Education Department (ED) this week kicked off one of two upcoming negotiated rulemaking sessions to implement the higher education components of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) reconciliation legislation. The table…
Community colleges: Workforce engines of the future
In a week when a government shutdown dominates headlines and political polarization seems irreparable, one invaluable sector has quiet bipartisan support in our nation: community colleges. More than 1,000 of these colleges educate 10.5 million…
Washington Watch: Hurtling toward a shutdown
As of late Tuesday, congressional Democrats and their Republican counterparts, allied with the president, appear far apart in reaching an agreement on a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government functioning after midnight. Many factors…
How community colleges can strategically engage with lawmakers
From individual institutions to statewide coalitions, community colleges are developing sophisticated approaches to legislative relations that strengthen ties with elected officials. Building these relationships can bring immediate and long-term benefits for your college. This article…
Why liberal arts matter — even in the age of AI
As an educator with years of experience in community colleges, I have often reflected on what drives career success today. One moment that reshaped my perspective came at a conference, where I met a senior…