July 17, 2024

Leading the news this week: Dive into the latest community college enrollment trends in our newest NOW article, 'Navigating Recovery: Community College Enrollment Trends and Challenges.'

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

Urge Congress to Pass Workforce Pell

ACCT encourages our member institutions to sign on to a coalition letter urging Congressional Leadership to prioritize expanding Pell Grant eligibility to encompass high-quality short-term education and training programs. The sign-on letter calls for the passage of workforce Pell legislation during the 118th Congress to ensure that students enrolled in shorter-term programs receive the financial support they need to succeed. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing the skills gap exacerbated by technological advancements and demographic shifts, which are creating significant shortages in critical industries. The letter is in response to a potential consideration of workforce Pell legislation in the Senate HELP and the House legislation that is still pending floor consideration. 

By expanding Pell Grant eligibility, we can provide flexible, affordable education options that align with workforce needs and enhance our nation's economic competitiveness. Your institution's support will strengthen our advocacy efforts and demonstrate widespread endorsement for accessible pathways to postsecondary credentials.

The deadline to sign on is July 26. To read the full letter and sign on, click here. Note: only individuals authorized to sign on behalf of the institution should fill out the form. 

*NEW* Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCCUs) Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program

The Office of Postsecondary Education’s Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant program will begin accepting applications tomorrow for eligible TCCUs. The program seeks to support an increase in research activities, undergraduate research opportunities, faculty development, research development, and infrastructure, including physical infrastructure and human capital development.

The deadline to apply is September 16. Interested parties can pre-register for technical assistance webinars on July 31 or August 14 at 2 pm ET. To pre-register, click here.

August Recess Outreach Prep

August recess allows federal lawmakers to spend a substantial amount of time in their home states and districts connecting with their constitutes. This presents a window of opportunity for community college leaders to strengthen relationships with their lawmakers.

ACCT encourages our membership to start planning for recess as soon as possible as lawmakers will soon be flooded with invitations. Use this time to think of a speaking engagement, welcome back to school event, or tour you can invite your member or offer your campus to them as a location for an upcoming event they may be hosting. You should also consider how your team can best use the opportunity to advocate for your institution's federal priorities. For more guidance on hosting federal officials in your campus, check out our advocacy toolkits on ACCT Connect. If you have not yet created an account, click here.

Serving as a Bridge: Community College Skills-Based Hiring Playbook Webinar

Community colleges and government agencies are natural partners in advancing economic mobility through alternative routes for skilled individuals (STARs). ACCT and Opportunity@Work will discuss insights from their Skills-Based Hiring Initiative during an upcoming webinar, introducing two new resources: the Community College Skills-Based Hiring Playbook and a case study on Charting New Career Pathways in Maryland.

The Playbook is designed to help community college leaders create clear, lucrative pathways for STARs, while the case study highlights lessons from Maryland’s Skills-Based Hiring Initiative. A community college leader will also share strategies for implementing the Playbook effectively. 

Join us August 15 at 2:00 PM ET. To register, click here. 

• Accepting applications on a rolling basis - SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Cohort 2 Applications
• July 26 - NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program
• July 29 - Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success
• August 5 - Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program
• August 15 - Serving as a Bridge: Community College Skills-Based Hiring Playbook Webinar
• September 12 - CTE Research Grants

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:

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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