Emergency response and ‘silver linings’
Responding to and managing a crisis is never easy, but community college leaders are prepared to address the myriad of issues that arise during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Jo Alice Blondin /…
Opinions
Coronavirus, community colleges and the equity gap
During the best of times, the differences between community college students and students at America’s private and public flagship universities are sizable and challenging. During crises, like the current coronavirus pandemic, they can be staggeringly…
Just getting started
Happy Birthday, American Association of Community Colleges! It is a joy to celebrate the nation’s community colleges and a Century of Success for AACC. Together with our members, we continue to safeguard accessible, affordable and…
Addressing the lag among African-American male students
When the president of Greenville Technical College brought together a team to take a hard look at persistence and retention, that group found that African-American males were lagging behind others. Alecia Watt is director of…
It’s time to scale up Early Colleges
Bunker Hill Community College in Massachusetts, like all community colleges across the country, serves thousands of disadvantaged students each year. While many of these students are successful in starting a career or advancing their education,…
Washington Watch: AACC releases campaign agenda
As in previous campaigns, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has just released an agenda for the presidential candidates and the next administration. Higher education issues are almost sure to be prominent issues into the…
Communicating across divisions
When people work in silos, so many opportunities are lost. More gets accomplished when collaboration reigns. Natalie Harder is chancellor of South Louisiana Community College. In 2019, she was named NCMPR’s National Pacesetter of the…
Increasing access through noncredit education
Noncredit programs have been welcoming students and promoting career and college pathways for decades, regardless of individuals’ educational, personal or immigration status. Madelyn Arballo is associate vice president of the School of Continuing Education at…
Preparing for the future of work
The nature of work is changing right before our eyes. Technology advancements are transforming existing industries and creating new ones at an unprecedented pace. Hope Cotner is president and CEO of the Center for Occupational…
Fulfilling a Promise
An educated citizenry, Thomas Jefferson once said, is vital for our survival as a free people. At the San Diego Community College District, the tuition-free San Diego Promise program not only provides access to a…