September 21,  2026

Leading the News this Week

DEADLINES MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY 9/21 and9/23 

ACCT is concerned about two proposals from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on accreditation and grants, which have public comment deadlines approaching next week.  ACCT urges community colleges to participate in the public comment period for both. 

Follow these steps to submit your college's public comments on both rules:

1. Review ACCT's customizable drafted sample comments to guide your submission on accreditation and ED grants.
2. Collaborate with your college's leadership to determine how you can customize your comment to your college's unique challenges and local context.
3. Submit your college's public comments by the deadlines:

• Monday, September 21: Accreditation Comment Deadline
• Wednesday, September 23: ED Grants Comment Deadline

Read on for more on the administration's efforts to politicize grants and change accreditation.

News in Higher Education

Senate Plans to Markup Anti-Fraud Bill

On September 24, 2026, at 10 AM ET​​​​​​, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee intends to mark up S. 4428, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act. This bill aims to require the Department of Education to screen submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for potential fraud. ED would be tasked with alerting the applicant and the institution if a submitted form was flagged, triggering the institution to verify the applicant's identity before aid is disbursed.  A markup provides lawmakers with the opportunity to update and refine bills that come before the committee of jurisdiction. As such, ACCT will track and report any significant changes to the Senate's No Aid for Ghost Students Act.  

ACCT Hosted a Congressional Briefing on the Role of Community Colleges in Federal Investments

Thursday, September 17, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), in partnership with the Community College Coalition, hosted the congressional briefing Strengthening America’s Workforce Pipeline: The Role of Community College in Federal Education and Workforce Investments.

From left to right: Jonathan Elkin of ACCT, President Dr. Jesse Ulrich of Iowa Central Community College, Pivot Path Founder Ashley Johnson, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, President Dr. Torie Jackson of West Virginia University Parkersburg, and Ronulia Darensburg, Student at Delgado Community College

The event featured Iowa Central Community College President Dr. Jesse Ulrich. Iowa Central Community College is the first college to have been approved by its governor and the U.S. Department of Education for federal Workforce Pell Grants. Panelists also included West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Dr. Torie Jackson; Trenholm State Community College Adult Basic Education graduate Ashley Johnson; and Delgado Community College nursing student and Pell Grant recipient Ronulia Darensburg. In addition, Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) provided opening remarks. ACCT's Jonathan Elkin moderated the panel.

This briefing highlighted the essential role community colleges play in preparing workers, supporting local economies, and advancing domestic job creation. Speakers highlighted critical investments in student support and workforce pipeline programs to help students persist, complete credentials, and move into good jobs, with an emphasis on Pell Grants, Adult Basic Education, Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), and Strengthening Community College Training Grants (SCCTG).

These panelists also met with members of Congress and their staffers to continue telling their stories on how the federal programs have the power to transform their colleges, students, and communities. Check out pictures of these visits below.

For more information:

• Event Press Release
• Full Recording of the Congressional Briefing

• **NEW ACCT Resource: Pell Grant Fact Sheet

The Department of Education Proposes Rules to Change Accreditation and Allow the Cancellation of Grants

Here is additional information on the two proposed rules from the Department of Education (ED). ACCT urges community colleges to submit public comments.

Accreditation: Comment Deadline Monday September 21

ED's proposed changes to accreditation would implement the following:

• Good news for community colleges: Make it easier for students to transfer credits. Institutions would need to publicly disclose their credit transfer policies. Institutions that elect to deny transfer credits would need to give a written explanation to the student and provide a cost estimate of how much it would be to retake the courses. Students would have 15 days to appeal the institution's denial.  
• Bad news: require numerical cost-benefit analysis for college facilities and student supports, which cannot always be easily measured. This would add staff time and burden to already under-resourced community colleges, while taking time away from actually serving students.
• Bad news: increase federal overreach, including requiring accreditors to enforce colleges' intellectual diversity in faculty hiring and an unclear definition of the First Amendment.
• Eliminate the two-year rule for accrediting bodies to gain initial recognition, along with what ED deems unnecessary documentation and site visits.
• Require accreditors to implement measures of student and institutional performance such as completion rates and economic returns.
• Require accreditors to remove any geographic restrictions or constraints.
• Require accreditors to be neutral in viewpoint and ideology when making accrediting decisions.

Changes in ED Grants: Comment Deadline Wednesday September 23

ED's harmful proposed changes to grants include:

• ED could cancel grants in the middle of a budget period.
• Multi-year grant awardees would no longer have priority in the continuation of those grants.
• ED would prioritize applications with lower or no indirect costs
• Colleges that receive formula funds from their state, such as Perkins Career and Technical Education and Adult Basic Education, would have to comply with current Executive Orders.

Amanda Fuchs Miller from Seventh Street Strategies authored a deep dive for ACCT in which she details what this proposal from the Department of Education would do to the community college sector. Read it here: Proposed Changes to the Department of Education’s Grant Rules Would Be Harmful to Community Colleges. 

Spotlights of Capitol Hill Office Meetings

On September 17, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), in partnership with the Community College Coalition, hosted the congressional briefing Strengthening America’s Workforce Pipeline: The Role of Community College in Federal Education and Workforce Investments. Here are some of the Congressional office meetings the panelists had while on Capitol Hill.

This Fall: Invite Your Members of Congress to Campus!

ACCT's Toolkit to Host Congressional Visits

During this year’s long congressional state work periods in September and October, congressional lawmakers return to their home states and districts to engage with their constituents and to pitch the many accomplishments they have made throughout the congressional session. Community college leaders have an optimal opportunity to establish, strengthen, or renew relationships with the lawmakers that represent their campuses and advocate for community college legislative priorities.

Take a look at ACCT’s new Toolkit on How to Host Your Member of Congress, which offers strategies to strengthen relationships with congressional lawmakers. On ACCT Now, read the blog, Community College Advocacy Continues All Year Round: Invite Your Member of Congress to Meet Back Home!

Remember -- you can use this time to:

• Invite your Member of Congress to visit your community college.
• Meet your Member of Congress at the congressional district office.
• Attend a congressional town hall, parade, BBQ, or other event that features your Member of Congress.
• Host a nonpartisan candidate forum, town hall, or tour with your Member of Congress or candidates seeking election for that congressional seat. If you invite a candidate that is not yet in office, you must invite all candidates for that seat and provide equal time, without endorsement.
• Invite your Member of Congress to speak at a program graduation or annual commencement.

Please contact the ACCT Government Relations team with information and pictures of your visit: publicpolicy@acct.org. We would like to uplift your member of Congress’s engagement with your community college to inspire others.

Grant Opportunities

Please view this new ACCT Now Blog:  Don’t Miss These Grant Opportunities for Community Colleges This Fall!

Please view ACCT's new resource highlighting top competitive grant opportunities for community colleges. These below are the top highlights:

Community College Internship (CCI) Program - U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

The Department of Energy's Office of Science is accepting applications for the Community College Internship (CCI) program, a paid 10-week internship at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories and facilities. Students work alongside scientists and engineers on technical projects supporting DOE's science and technology mission, with internship terms offered in summer, fall, and spring. Applicants must be currently enrolled full- or part-time at a community college, have completed at least one semester with a minimum of 12 total credit hours (including 6 in STEM), and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Participants receive a weekly stipend of $650, along with travel reimbursement and housing support. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Learn more and apply here.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting applications to improve the the education and preparation of technicians for high-technology fields that are critical to the U.S. economy. The program supports community colleges and their partners in developing STEM curricula, training faculty, creating career pathways, and strengthening partnerships with industry to prepare students for skilled technical careers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, engineering, energy, cybersecurity, AI, and other emerging technologies. The NSF anticipates up to 80 awards with award size ranging from $475,000 to $7,500,000. The application deadline is Thursday, October 1st, 2026 at 5:00 PM applicant's time. Learn more and apply here.

Advocacy Note: This program is a significant national priority for ACCT. View the letter ACCT and AACC sent to Congress requesting an increase in total funding for this program nationally. 

NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs

The National Science Foundation is accepting proposals for State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs, which will connect researchers and students to AI computing resources and build a skilled AI workforce. NSF anticipates about 10 awards ranging from $4 million to $12 million over five years, with only one award per state or multi-state region. Hubs are structured as consortia of institutions of higher education, including community colleges, working with industry, philanthropy, and state and local governments, and must address workforce development, faculty training, and regional partnerships alongside infrastructure. The full proposal deadline is Wednesday, November 4, 2026.  Learn more and apply here.

• Monday, September 21 - Accreditation Public Comment Period Closes
• Wednesday, September 23 -  Department of Education Proposed Rule Grants Public Comment Period Closes 
• Thursday, September 24- No Aid for Ghost Students Act Markup
• Wednesday, September 30 - Federal Student Aid Input Deadline on Strategic Plan
• September 30, 5 PM ET -  Community College Internship (CCI) Program
• October 1, 5 PM Applicant's Time -  Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• October 21-24 -  ACCT Leadership Congress
• November 4, 11:59 PM ET - NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs
• November 6, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live 
• December 4, 1-2 PM ET- -  ACCT LAW Live

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. 

ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:

Would you Like a Federal Update Session for Your Team?

Both this new presidential administration and new Congress have brought with them a flurry of developments in the federal landscape that can make keeping up a monumental task. ACCT's Government Relations team is here to help by offering a 45-minute to an-hour federal update session to community college leadership teams who are ACCT members. To request a session, fill out this form and please email publicpolicy@acct.org with any questions.

Have a Question?

Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.

If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy

Spread the Word.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here. 

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