November 1, 2024

Leading the news this week: 

As we wait for the election to determine the make up of the federal government, members of the House are vying for committee leadership. One notable race is between Republicans Congressmen Tim Walberg and Burgess Owens who both want to lead the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Representative Walberg has mentioned an interest in "connecting education to jobs, including boosting apprenticeships and reauthorizing a law that governs workforce development programs." Meanwhile, Representative Owens has said his area of focus would be school choice and assessing the Department of Education's fiscal responsibility. Currently, as Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Representative Owens wants an outcome where the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is reauthorized by the end of the 118th Congress. 

Now let's dive into the latest news in higher education!

The Biden Administration Proposes Rules that Would Forgive Student Loan Debt Based on Hardship

The Department of Education announced a set of rules that would allow the Secretary discretion to forgive, in whole or in part, student loans for borrowers who face financial hardship. These regulations are set to provide a list of factors the Secretary may use to determine whether to waive the loan. These factors may include income, types and balances of student loans, assets, and Pell Grant recipient information. These rules specify that the Secretary is to use one of two pathways to determine forgiveness eligibility. The first pathway commits the Department of Education to automatically determine if the borrower is experiencing hardship based on information in the Department's possession. The second pathway involves a holistic assessment of the borrower's circumstances that require the borrower to submit an application which could then be combined with information the Department already has. The period for public comments closes December 2, 2024.  

Lawmakers Ask the Department of Education to Support SAVE Plan Borrowers

On October 25th, lawmakers in both the House and Senate sent a letter urging Secretary Miguel Cardona to provide clarity and support to student loan borrowers who are experiencing disruptions and uncertainty regarding litigation over the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. An estimated eight million SAVE Plan participants have their accounts in forbearance while the Department awaits the results of litigation. This letter highlights that borrowers who are aiming for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) face uncertainty over their eligibility for forgiveness and many borrowers have reported receiving contradictory information when inquiring about their eligibility which leads to being unable to make progress towards the qualifying 120 monthly payments. Overall, these lawmakers ask the Department to ensure that the current period of forbearance counts for PSLF borrowers; to restore access to other income-based repayment plans for these borrowers and conduct outreach to inform them of their options; and to plan for an outcome in which the SAVE Plan is struck down by the courts.

The Department of Labor Welcomed Latest Apprenticeship Ambassadors

The Department of Labor welcomed the newest cohort of Apprenticeship Ambassadors at a White House ceremony. Among the 441 Apprenticeship Ambassadors are community colleges and institutions of higher education. In their press release, the Department of Labor states, "Apprenticeship Ambassadors are helping to modernize Registered Apprenticeships by making specific commitments to sponsor promotional and training activities, conduct outreach to people from underrepresented populations, launch Registered Apprenticeship Programs and hire apprentices." ACCT is proud to have published a white paper on registered apprenticeships. This paper outlines the benefits of registered apprenticeships on students, community colleges, and local communities. 

Departments of Commerce, Education, and Labor Renew the Memorandum of Understanding with Switzerland to Increase American Registered Apprenticeships

The United States and Switzerland renewed a 2021 agreement that would expand registered apprenticeship programs in the United States. As Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo stated, "this Memorandum of Understanding sets the stage for even more investment in the U.S., building diverse, skilled workforces through Registered Apprenticeships to meet the demands of the future." Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona remarked that he is proud that the Department of Education and its "partners across the Biden-Harris administration have renewed a memorandum of understanding that recognizes the value of quality Registered Apprenticeships as well as a strong global partnership that strengthens career pathways in both countries."

Upcoming Webinar on Mental Health and Well-being of Community College Students

In partnership with the National Alliance of Community and Technical Colleges (NACTC), the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) will host a webinar discussing mental health and well-being supports for community college students. This webinar is set to take place on November 19, 2024 at 10AM CT. Click here to register and for additional materials and information.

Grant Opportunities

Head Start/ Early Head Start Recipient: Health and Human services has issued a notice of funding opportunity for organizations, such as community colleges, that wish to compete for funds to provide Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to eligible children and families. Click here and here for additional information on the available programs. The closing date for applications is January 6, 2025.

Celebrating the Contribution of African Food to American Cuisine: The U.S. Embassy in Uganda will host a culinary diplomacy program titled “Celebrating the Contribution of African Food to American Cuisine,” to celebrate Black History Month 2025, and invites organizations to submit applications for its implementation. This program invites educational institutions with culinary and/or hospitality programs to apply. Here is additional information. The closing date for applications is November 30, 2024 

Foundational Learning Program: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aims to conduct an analysis to identify potential local partners that will have the capability to implement the anticipated foundational learning “Targeted Instruction” activity. This work tries to support the Government of Tanzania to improve foundational literacy and numeracy for grades 1 to 5 learners. Here is additional information regarding this opportunity. The closing date for applications is November 19, 2024.   

• November 1, 5:00 EST - Postsecondary Success Recognition Program Applications Due
• November 12 - Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide Comments Due
• November 12 - Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act Comments Due
• November 13 - College Assistance Migrant Program Grant closing date
• November 13 - High School Equivalency Program Grant closing date
• November 19 - Foundational Learning Program (Tanzania)
• November 19 10:00 AM CT - Supporting Minds, Supporting Learners Webinar
• November 30 -  Celebrating the Contribution of African Food to American Cuisine Application Deadline
• December 12, 11:59 PM EST - Save America's Treasures Preservation Grant
• December 13, 5:00 PM EST - Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness Programs Application Deadline
• January 6, 2025 11:59PM EST - Head Start/ Early Head Start Recipient, Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants
• January 22, 2025 - Addressing Systems Challenges through Engineering Teams Grant Closing Date
• February 9-12, 2025 - National Legislative Summit

Outreach Efforts

Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?

We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC. 

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