Government

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…


The new American workforce?

In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a plan to “reach and surpass one million new active apprentices” annually. The initiative calls for a rapid expansion of training programs and introduction of…


Washington Watch: FY25 TRIO funding still in flux

With less than two weeks left in fiscal year 2025, many community colleges have not yet received their expected TRIO award disbursements. Many colleges expected to see awards processed for TRIO’s Upward Bound, Veterans Upward…


Spreading climate science across the curriculum

While lessons related to climate and sustainability are probably most often found in environmental science courses, some colleges and state systems have been encouraging their faculty to weave these topics across their curricula, from history,…


Investing in relationships as a workforce development strategy

Community colleges are essential to workforce and economic development ecosystems, and our speed to market strategies facilitate talent recruitment and development, workforce retention and upskilling. Our institutions are well-known in our regions as problem-solvers for…


Fighting for MSIs

Community college advocates and other stakeholders are rallying to send Congress a strong message to fight for federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), which the Trump administration has targeted for cuts. Supporters of MSIs —…


Community college radio’s future

Community college radio and television stations are among the network of broadcasters nationwide hit by the $1.1 billion cut to the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, forcing the 58-year-old non-profit to shut down…


Washington Watch: ED to nix funding for MSI grants

The U.S. Education Department (ED) on Wednesday announced that it will end discretionary funding to several Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) grant programs that provide substantial support to community colleges, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs),…


Tap Mentor-Connect for grant application advice

Geography Professor Jonathon “Jon” Little is enjoying a streak of good news for the geospatial information science technology (GIST) program at Monroe Community College (MCC). He’s preparing to start his third ATE grant on October…


Reporter’s notebook

DOL provides $8M to help revamp shipbuilding industry ED expands role of ombudsman Will new Workforce Pell carry Trump’s name? Enrollment roll DOL provides $8M to help revamp shipbuilding industry The U.S. Department of Labor…