August 6,  2026

Leading the News this Week

New Release: ACCT's New Summer Advocacy Toolkit

August Recess is a time when federal lawmakers are back in their home districts,  creating an excellent opportunity for community college advocates to meet with their federal elected officials on campus. 

Keep reading to see our new ACCT Advocacy Toolkit on how to maximize the August Recess to establish and nurture your relationships with your members of Congress during this time of year.

Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live is Going Live: FRIDAY, August 7th. 1-2 PM ET

The ACCT Government Relations Team invites you to join us for our monthly webinar, Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live, where we will cover the latest updates coming out of the Trump administration and Congress.  Register Today! 

Leading the News this Week

August Recess Congressional Toolkit!

August Recess is a time when federal lawmakers are back in their home districts,  creating an excellent opportunity for community college advocates to meet with their federal elected officials on campus. 

Keep reading to see our toolkit on how to maximize the August Recess to establish and nurture your relationships with your members of Congress during this time of year.

Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live is Going Live: FRIDAY, August 7th. 1-2 PM ET

The ACCT Government Relations Team invites you to join us for our monthly webinar, Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live, where we will cover the latest updates coming out of the Trump administration and Congress.  Register Today! 

News in Higher Education

National Call to Action to University Presidents and Governing Boards

On August 3, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued a “National Call to Action to University Presidents and Governing Boards” in the stated interest of "[restoring] public trust in higher education.” This open letter calls on all institutions of higher education to transparently commit to several items as part of “a generational opportunity for self-reflection and institutional renewal.” 

The letter states that “these statements of principle should be posted prominently on institutional websites” before the end of 2026. In the letter, Secretary McMahon calls on institutions to make a pledge in the following seven categories to renew their relationship with the American people:

1. Transparency and Merit in Admissions
2. Free Speech and Open Inquiry
3. Intellectual Pluralism and Academic Vitality
4. Affordability, Value, and Student Outcomes
5. Academic Standards and Rigor in the Age of AI
6. Safeguarding Research Integrity from Malign Foreign Influence
7. Prioritizing American Interests

This request from Secretary McMahon is voluntary. As such, ACCT recommends that community college presidents and their boards have a conversation about the letter and its requests before deciding how to move forward.

Accountability: Degree and Certificate Programs and Workforce Pell Programs

On July 1, 2026, many of the higher education provisions in H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, came into effect. Among them are the accountability regulations that govern degree and certificate programs as well as the implementation of the new Workforce Pell programs. Here is a helpful comparison table detailing the similarities and differences in accountability regulations for degree and certificate programs and Workforce Pell programs.

Administration Ends Civil Rights Regulations on Disparate Impact

On July 23rd, both the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced the elimination of Disparate Impact provisions from the Departments’ regulations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Disparate impact is defined as a practice that appears to be neutral yet accidentally generates harm to a protected group(s) of people. The Trump administration deems that disparate impact provisions were formally used to declare institutions of education as violating Title VI when applying race-neutral policies and practices. The administration also stated that disparate impact incentivized “doctors, hospitals, universities, or state agencies to sort people by race to satisfy a statistic."

August Recess: Invite Your Members of Congress

ACCT's August Recess Toolkit

During the August recess, 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 August Recess Toolkit, 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 use this August Recess to:

• Invite your Member of Congress to visit your community college.
• Invite your Member of Congress to speak at a program graduation or annual commencement.
• 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.

Please contact the ACCT Government Relations team with information and pictures of your meeting or community college visit at 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: Beyond the Department of Education: Other Federal Grants Worth Your Time

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

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants competition to support education and training that improves mine safety and health. Approximately five awards are expected, with grant amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Community colleges are eligible to apply either independently or as the lead organization in a partnership with other eligible entities. Projects should focus on emergency response and recovery training, instruction on new Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) standards, and training to address identified mine hazards, with particular emphasis on programs serving new, recently opened, or smaller mines. No cost sharing is required. The application deadline is August 18, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

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 September 30th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Learn more and apply here.

• August 7, 1-2 PM ET - ACCT LAW Live
• August 31, 11:59 PM ET - Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants
• September 4, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• September 30, 5 PM ET -  Community College Internship (CCI) Program
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• October 21-24 -  ACCT Leadership Congress
• 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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