From the Desk of George Boggs
August 20, 2010
Issue #747
Policy and Advocacy
1. COMMUNITY COLLEGES CHALLENGED TO MEET NATIONAL GOAL
If community colleges hope to reach a national goal of helping an additional 5 million of their students complete college by 2020, two-year institutions will have to reallocate resources rather than rely on new funding, according to an article in the Community College Times.
AACC Contact: Matthew Dembicki
Program Initiatives
2. AACC RECEIVES ATE GRANT FROM NSF
AACC just received approval for a new National Science Foundation ATE award for the project, "Advancing the Impact of STEM Education II: The Community College Role, 2010–2013." This grant provides funds to host the annual ATE PI Conference, continue the MentorLinks project, develop a student success video series in partnership with ATE-TV, and other dissemination activities. More information will be forthcoming on the AACC Web site.
AACC Contact: Ellen Hause
3. JOYCE FOUNDATION SURVEY—A CHANCE TO WIN AN APPLE iPAD
Bridge programs are proliferating across the country at an exciting rate. Bridge programs are a 21st-century idea to help adult students obtain the necessary academic and technical skills needed to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training programs. For this reason, the Joyce Foundation approached the Workforce Strategy Center to collect information for a composite picture of how many bridge programs exist, where they operate, with what populations, in what industries and sectors and with what educational characteristics. The results will give funders and other key stakeholders a better sense of the depth and breadth of the field. This survey will take 15 minutes for program administrators to complete, and all respondents will have a chance to win an Apple iPad. Click here to access the survey before Sept. 10, 2010.
AACC Contact: Jennifer Worth
News and Social Networking
4. TIPS FOR LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA AT YOUR COLLEGE
Social media can be a cheap but effective tool in your college's communications arsenal. See tips from college experts for successful ways to recruit friends, fans and followers in the August/September issue of Community College Journal, now available in print and online.
AACC Contact: Norma Kent
5. STUDENTS RATE THEIR PROFESSORS
Find out what the top-rated community college professor on the Web site RateMyProfessors.com thinks of professor rating Web sites in the Aug. 18 issue of USA Today.
AACC Contact: Sarah Lawler
6. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COLLEGE PRESIDENT
What does a college president do all day? Watch this video and see for yourself.
AACC Contact: Sarah Lawler
Grants and Partnerships
7. APPLY FOR MLK DAY OF SERVICE GRANTS
Grant applications are now being accepted to promote the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service on Jan. 17, 2011. Grants are available in increments of $1,000 and $2,500 for individual colleges and groups of higher education institutions. North Carolina Campus Compact is managing the process for the Corporation for National and Community Service. The request for proposals and application form are available online; applications are due Sept. 10, 2010.
AACC Contact: Gail Robinson
8. COLLEGES AWARDED LEARN AND SERVE GRANTS
The Corporation for National and Community Service recently selected six community colleges to receive Learn and Serve America grants. Over the next three years, these colleges will integrate service learning into either STEM disciplines or teacher education programs. They include Burlington County College (N.J.), College of the Canyons (Calif.), Delgado Community College (La.), El Paso Community College (Texas), Miami Dade College (Fla.), and Northwest Indian College (Wash.).
AACC Contact: Gail Robinson
New Resources
9. GET READY FOR THE FALL 2010 ENROLLMENT SURVEY
Last year AACC conducted a fall enrollment survey. The resulting policy brief provided information that was instrumental in AACC's advocacy efforts at a time when there was tremendous national focus on the role of community colleges in responding to the economic crisis. AACC plans to conduct a similar enrollment survey at the end of October. Further details will be forthcoming, and a prompt response from you and your IR staff will be key to the survey's success. For more information, contact Christopher Mullin.
AACC Contact: Christopher Mullin
Events and Services
10. CALL FOR 2011 AACC ANNUAL CONVENTION EVENTS IS NOW OPEN
AACC's call for convention events is officially open, and AACC is ready to receive your session and event proposals. Share with your colleagues your expertise, innovations and research. Learning from peers is one of the top three reasons people attend AACC's annual convention each year. Get started by visiting the AACC Web site to view evaluation criteria, session tracks, types of sessions and other resources. A strong emphasis will be placed on proposals that address the completion agenda. The call will close Sept. 20, 2010. If you have any questions, contact Delinda Frazier.
AACC Contact: Delinda Frazier
11. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AACC'S WASHINGTON INSTITUTE
The Washington Institute is an intensive seminar designed for community college officials and other advocates who want an insider's view of how Washington formulates higher education policy. This year's institute will offer an analysis of the fall elections and prospects for the 112th Congress, a review of recent legislation and the future funding landscape for community colleges. For more information or to register for the Nov. 7–9 conference, visit the AACC Web site.
AACC Contacts: Katharine Carter and Laurie Quarles
12. 2010 WORLD CONGRESS TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION FOR GLOBAL RECOVERY
The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics is pleased to announce its 2010 World Congress, hosted by Association of Colleges (AOC), in the United Kingdom, Nov. 14–15. World Congress is the leading international event for providers of vocational education and skills training, drawing over 300 delegates from 36 countries from colleges, polytechnics or higher education institutions. This year the focus will be on the role of education in driving global recovery. Official conference language is English. For more information, visit the AOC Web site.
AACC Contact: George Boggs