commentary

Starting early and staying the course

The crucial first step in achieving student success in rural, low-income areas is to burst affordability and class access paradigms and get students in the door to start their education. Many low-income parents falsely assume…



Granting ourselves grace

When I first stood in a community college classroom as an English adjunct in rural North Carolina, I never planned to be a college president. Yet two and a half decades later, I reflect on…



Advocacy quick hits

Editor’s note: This weekly update from the government relations office at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides the latest on what’s happening in Washington and how AACC is advancing policies to support community…


Washington Watch: Diving into ED data

The U.S. Education Department’s periodic data dump through the National Postsecondary Student Assistance Survey, better known as NPSAS, contains essential information about the reach and impact of the federal student financial aid programs. Advocacy for…


The next decade of distance learning will be awesome!

Editor’s note: The Instructional Technology Council (ITC) concludes its series of articles focusing on the anticipated impact of distance learning over the next 10 years. For the past six months, the ITC has provided a…


Washington Watch: Not just the dog days

Congress this week began its annual August recess, leaving representatives and senators in their home districts and states until after Labor Day. As it is every year, the August recess is an excellent opportunity for…


Solving the mystery of tech support

Community College tech support professionals deal with solving mysteries on a daily basis. Some calls and emails can be an open-and-shut case (Have you turned it off and on?), but others need some detective work…


Washington Watch: Tough funding talks down the road

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a fiscal year 2024 spending bill for education, workforce development and other programs that sets the stage for difficult negotiations later this year to reconcile differences between its…