One year in: What this year has taught me
On October 1, 2025, I became President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). A year has passed — full, humbling, clarifying — and I find myself wanting to mark it not…
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From AI skills to AI judgment
A student uses generative AI in an English class on an assignment that asks them to draft a routine professional email. The assignment allows it, the information is not sensitive, and the student reviews the…
Engaging CTE educators with industry-aligned professional development
Change is constant, and education is no exception. One thing that doesn’t change is how important it is for education to stay connected to industry trends. Deloitte’s 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook shares an overview of…
Can community colleges save American agriculture?
Walk onto almost any community college campus and its workforce priorities are easy to see. Nursing students train in simulation labs. Welding students learn in well-equipped shops. Colleges invest in cybersecurity, electrical technology, HVAC and…
AACC urges ED to rescind or delay proposed EDGAR rule
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is asking the U.S. Education Department (ED) to rescind or delay a proposed update to the Education Department’s General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), arguing that the rule could compromise…
The readiness paradox community colleges can’t ignore
Community colleges can help close the readiness paradox, or the widening gap between finishing high school and being ready for what’s next. Three new national surveys show how wide it’s grown. High school graduation rates…
Strengthening strategic partnerships builds a strong workforce ecosystem
Workforce development has become one of the most important economic challenges of our time. While headlines often focus on billion-dollar investments, new facilities or breakthrough technologies, long-term success depends on something much more fundamental: people….
AACC goes on record on ED’s accreditation proposals
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) submitted detailed comments to the Education Department (ED) this week on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on accreditation, addressing areas such as transfer of credit and more….
Immersive learning lab: Bringing VR into the classroom
By embracing a phased rollout, strong faculty partnerships, and strategic funding, Carroll Community College created an accessible virtual reality lab that enhances teaching and learning. Carroll Community College’s Virtual Reality (VR) Lab began with a…
Building an equitable clean energy workforce
The transition to a clean energy economy has emerged as a major driver of employment growth in the United States. In 2023, clean energy employment expanded at more than twice the rate of the overall…