From the Desk of George Boggs
October 30, 2009
Issue #729
Policy and Advocacy
1. EARLIER THIS MONTH, REP. BEN RAY LUJÁN (D-NM-3) introduced the Community College Energy Training Act of 2009, H.R. 3731. Identical to a bill introduced in March by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), this legislation would authorize $100 million for each of the next five fiscal years for a competitive grants program to community colleges to provide workforce training and education in alternative energy; energy efficient construction; sustainable energy technologies, including chemical technology, nanotechnology and electrical technology; water and energy conservation; recycling and waste reduction; and sustainable agriculture. More than 50 Representatives have agreed to co-sponsor the bill.
AACC Contact: Laurie Quarles
2. REGISTER NOW FOR THE FREE AACC WEBINAR “The American Graduation Initiative: Senate Legislation and How to Influence the Final House-Senate Conference Bill.” David Baime, AACC Vice President for Government Relations, will detail the contents of the Senate bill and inform you about how to influence the final version of this crucial legislation. Learn the differences between the House and Senate legislation on key issues such as the structure of the AGI grant programs, accountability measures and allowable uses of renovation and construction funds. The voices of community colleges will be vital in the final stages of this legislative debate, so get up to speed by participating in this webinar! Upon registering, you will be provided with all the information you need to participate in the webinar, including your unique URL and call-in information.
AACC Contact: James Hermes
3. IT'S NOT TOO LATE! REGISTER TODAY FOR AACC'S 2009 WASHINGTON INSTITUTE. Learn more about President Obama's American Graduation Initiative and how your college can benefit from this historic legislation. Gain valuable insights about this and other pending legislation while bolstering your contacts on Capitol Hill. Discover how to secure additional federal resources and enhance media coverage for your college. Click here to register online for the 2009 Washington Institute, Nov. 8–10. For more information, view the preliminary program.
AACC Contact: Laurie Quarles
4. MEMBERS AND NURSING FACULTY ARE STRONGLY URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE (IOM) MEETING NOV. 2 in Washington, D.C. You may attend in person or by telephone. Click here to register. The meeting agenda indicates local and national speakers will focus on the following: “the roles of nursing in addressing health disparities, reimbursement and financing for nursing care and quality, access and value—nursing roles for the 21st century.” The IOM will not take questions or comments from the public at the Nov. 2 meeting. In addition, the IOM has scheduled a Forum on the Future of Nursing: Primary Care, Long-Term Care, Community Health, and Public Health for Dec. 3 in Philadelphia, Pa., for which testimony and public comment will be taken. Registration for the Dec. 3 meeting is not yet available.
AACC Contact: Roxanne Fulcher
In the News/Media
5. RISING COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS AND WAYS COLLEGES ARE STRETCHING CAPACITY was the focus of a front page story in the New York Times this week (New Meaning for Night Class at 2-Year Colleges, p. 1, Oct. 27). View online.
Program Initiatives
6. THE AACC PLUS 50 INITIATIVE PRESENTS A SERIES OF SIX LIVE WEBINARS this fall. The no cost, interactive one-hour webinars will be available to community colleges interested in programming and services for learners age 50 and above. This series brings together a host of subject matter experts in panel discussions and presentations. The next webinar, titled “If You Build It: Promoting Your Program for Adult Learners” is Nov. 5. Available on a first-come, first-served basis. For a description, click HERE. To sign up to participate, send an e-mail to Katya Nekrasova. To view recordings of the past sessions, please visit the webinar page.
AACC Contact: Katya Nekrasova
7. THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO COMPLETE The U.S. Department of Transportation survey of community colleges relating to course, certificate and degree offerings. If you have not yet responded, please do so online.
AACC Contact: Carolyn Teich
New Resources
8. THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION (AASHE) has launched a suite of Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums covering key topics in education and research; campus operations; and campus planning, engagement and administration. The aim is to provide a central place for sharing ideas and best practices and asking and answering questions. Contributors are expected to be largely North American, but the forums are open to all.
AACC Contact: Carolyn Teich
9. FINDINGS FROM OPEN DOORS 2009, THE ANNUAL REPORT on international educational exchange published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), will be released on Nov. 16. Open Doors provides extensive data, analysis and historical background on international students in the U.S. and Americans studying abroad. A briefing will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D. C., on Nov. 16 at 9:30a.m., in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State. This event is part of the nationwide observance of International Education Week. For an advance copy of the embargoed press release, available the week of Nov. 19, contact IIE’s Public Affairs office: Sharon Witherell/Leena Soman, or 212/984-5360.
AACC Contact: Judy Irwin
Grants and Partnerships
10. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS WEEKING APPLICATIONS for projects funded through the federal stimulus legislation to facilitate the development of a highly skilled electric power workforce to help implement a national clean energy Smart Grid. Activities include developing and enhancing workforce training programs. Eligibility is unrestricted. The department will award up to 45 grants, totaling $100 million. For more information, visit www.grants.gov and search for CFDA # 81.122.
AACC Contact: Matt Dembicki
11. THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY is accepting proposals to recruit, train and place local unemployed, low-income and minority residents for full-time, sustainable careers in the redevelopment of brown fields. Activities may include training participants to handle and remove hazardous substances and assess and remediate potentially contaminated facilities. Nonprofit organizations and state and local governments are eligible. The department will award up to 13 grants, totaling $2.6 million. The deadline is Dec. 1. For more information, visit Web site.
AACC Contact: Matt Dembicki
Events and Services
12. WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU! Get the inside track on federal funding, grants and new opportunities at AACC’s Annual Convention, April 17-20, in Seattle, Wash. Registration is now open and hotel reservations are being accepted. Visit Web site for more information.
AACC Contact: Sarah Lawler
13. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW FOR AACC'S 2010 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, The Stimulus and Beyond, to receive early bird rates. Also register for the Future Leaders Institute: On the Path from Workforce Training to Higher Leadership, an intensive 1 ½ day seminar at the same venue.
AACC Contact: Carolyn Teich
14. VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOSTS THE FIFTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY College Conference on Legal Issues in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Designed to address the needs of front-line workers and practitioners at all levels, this conference will assist community colleges in addressing key legal issues. To register or for additional information, please visit Web site or call 407/582-3219.
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian
15. HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL HOST THE 4TH ANNUAL Black, Brown & College Bound Summit, Feb. 24-26, Tampa, Fla. The theme “Reality Check: Status Quo or Route to Change for African American and Latino Males,” challenges community colleges to examine the academic, socio-economic, political and personal factors impacting African American and Latino males. To register or for information, visit Web site or e-mail.
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian
16. THE COUNCIL ON LEGAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY (CLEO), a nonprofit entity of the American Bar Association, offers scholarships, resources and professional development opportunities for minority, low-income and disadvantaged students who are interested in law school. CLEO is funded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program. CLEO will offer a FREE Pre-Law Seminar in New York City Nov. 21. To learn more about CLEO and its opportunities, please visit Web site or contact Lynda Cevallos.
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian
17. TWO WEEKS REMAIN TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE for International Development (CCID) 34th Annual Conference, Feb. 20-23 at The Woodlands, Texas (near Houston). The conference theme is "Community Colleges: Architects of Global Prosperity." Session proposals are due by Nov. 16. See www.ccid.cc and follow the conference links. If you have questions, email ccid@kirkwood.edu or call 319/398-7183.
AACC Contact: Judy Irwin
18. ATTEND THE 34TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CCID), Feb. 20-23, in Houston, Texas. The theme, "Community Colleges: Architects of Global Prosperity," provides an opportunity to find global partners for collaboration and development of student and teacher mobility programs and internships. To submit a presentation proposal and register online, visit http://www.ccid.cc.
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian
19. THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS OPEN for the 13th North American Higher Education Conference, "Innovation in International Higher Education Collaboration: Creating Opportunities in Challenging Times," April 21-23, at Rice University in Houston, Texas. This event will provide a forum for discussion on what innovations are working, being developed or could be developed to facilitate international education and regional cooperation both within North America and between this region and the rest of the world. For additional information, contact Sean Manley-Casimir, or 520/626-8199. To submit a proposal, visit Web site. Deadline is Dec. 4.
AACC Contact: Judy Irwin