commentary


Faculty as change agents

Over the past 18 months, community colleges have had to dramatically increase supports to students and work closely with them to help address the myriad challenges they have faced during the pandemic and recession. Institutions…


Washington Watch: Good news on HEERF extension

Community college officials across the country who have wondered if they could count on receiving a one-year, no-cost extension for their Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) can breathe a little easier. Education Under Secretary…


Washington Watch: Congress releases FY 22 spending bill

Congress released on Wednesday an omnibus fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations bill that will fund the entire federal government for the remainder of the current fiscal year, which began on October 1. As expected, the…


Advancing the institutional mission

Over the course of nearly five years, I had the opportunity to serve one of the most storied community colleges in the nation, St. Philip’s College (SPC) in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1898 as…



Staff shortages a barrier for distance ed during Covid

Staffing shortages emerged as one of the greatest challenges for community college distance learning programs during the pandemic, according to an annual survey by the Instructional Technology Council (ITC). Nearly half (48%) of respondents to…


Washington Watch: Mulling gainful employment regs

The U.S. Education Department (ED) last Friday wrapped up the second of three week-long negotiated rulemaking (negreg) sessions of the Committee on Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility for the Title IV student aid programs. As previously…


Black History Month: Students who inspire us

Sometimes, when we think about Black History, we think about it as being in the past. At Phi Theta Kappa, Black History is something we live daily. It is very much a part of our present….


Computer science meets liberal arts

Catering to the diverse needs and goals of learners, community colleges typically offer a broad array of academic options, including transfer, workforce, continuing education, and community and leisure learning programming. The term “transfer” refers to…