Message from your Executive Director | |
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ACC Colleagues,
Happy October! I hope you are all as excited for the conference as I am. As you know, I like to think about the future and how we can make better decisions today. So, it was with great interest that I read the recent Chronicle of Higher Education report Higher Education
in 2035. It contained an intriguing essay by Dr. Sunita Cooke, President of the MiraCosta Community College District and current Chair of AACC. Dr. Cooke makes a number of points:
- Colleges will see an increase of adult and part-time students.
- Colleges should de-emphasize the traditional classroom in favor of flipped classrooms with hands on learning.
- Colleges will need to focus on integrating the latest technology into the classroom to prepare students for jobs and to meet the needs of students who have grown up with technology.
- The traditional coursework, highly defined majors, and the Carnegie unit will go away.
All of these are interesting suggestions as we plan for the future and think about the next few years look like.
I can’t wait to see you all at the conference, where we will further explore The Next Chapter in higher education!
Sincerely,
Andrea Henderson
Executive Director
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Purveyors of Apprenticeships? | |
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As of 2023, 541 community or technical colleges were registered apprenticeship “sponsors,” meaning they officially administered and operated apprenticeship programs. However, only 208 of these colleges had an active apprentice. Community colleges’ geographic locations, experience with workforce development and connections with local and regional business and industry make them ideal intermediaries to expand apprenticeships. However, they face challenges, particularly with funding and getting companies to participate.
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Acknowledging the Silent Stigma of Student Parents | |
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Research estimates that one in five college students has a dependent under the age of 18. Despite being such a large portion of the student population, student parents are often hidden. Those working to shine light on the student parent population offer a number of practical approaches for college administrators to help assist them in completing their education.
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Arkansas Community Colleges, in partnership with Jobs for the Future and with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is similarly embarking on a research grant to identify student parent needs and design statewide plans for support. More information to come!
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Survey: When Should College Students Use AI? They’re Not Sure | |
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Despite the proliferation of generative AI use on campuses (in both classrooms and workrooms), most institutions of higher education have yet to adopt a formal policy governing its use. As a result, surveys show that three in 10 students don't know when it is appropriate to use AI in their coursework.
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Want to learn more about AI and campus policies? Join us at the 2024 ACC Conference - we have a breakout session track for that!
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Arkansas Division of Higher Education Holds Regional Perkins V Feedback Meetings | ADHE staff recently held 16 regional meetings across Arkansas to solicit comprehensive feedback on the State Plan for federal Perkins funding, scheduled to be updated in 2025. Nearly $2.7 million in Perkins funding supported 17,836 students at postsecondary institutions during the 2022-2023 academic year, with nearly 50% of funding spent on equipment. Of note, Arkansas postsecondary institutions exceeded state goals for postsecondary placement, earned credentials, and nontraditional program concentration for CTE concentrators. | |
The Hope Center Releases Preview of the 2023-2024 Basic Needs Survey | |
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Between January 2023 and July 2024, 74,350 students across 16 states and 91 schools completed the Student Basic Needs Survey as part of the Hope Impact Partnerships program. According to their findings, 3 in 5 college students are experiencing basic needs insecurity related to food and/or housing. Mental health also continues to be a major challenge for students, with almost half experiencing clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Other major findings include:
· 41% of students experience food insecurity
· 48% of students experience housing insecurity
· 14% of students experience homelessness
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Arkansas CCsmart Campaign Wraps Up | |
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ACC partnered with Phi Theta Kappa, with support from the Lumina Foundation, to launch a digital community college promotional campaign aimed at high school students, parents, and counselors. The six-week campaign had more than 3.8 million impressions. The primary source of traffic was Facebook, followed closely by banner ads. Instagram and video ads increased exposure among younger audiences. The Arkansas Division of Higher Education and many community colleges also participated in the campaign.
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Final Call for the 2024 ACC Conference | |
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Advance registration for the 2024 ACC Conference is closed, but don't fret - you can still register on-site in Hot Springs! Can't make the full conference? Single-day tickets, individual banquet tickets, and individual tickets to HLC Updates with Tom Bordenkircher are available for purchase. Check out the conference website for more details, including a full list of professional development and networking opportunities. See you in Hot Springs!
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Brian Carlisle Joins ASUMH as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs | |
Brian Carlisle joins ASU-Mountain Home October 1, 2024, as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Brian is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, Alabama. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School, a Master of Arts (Higher Education Administration), and a Bachelor of Science (Applied Mathematics) from the University of Alabama. His Associate of Arts degree from Faulkner State is also in Mathematics. Mr. Carlisle’s varied experience includes positions such as Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs & Dean of Students, Vice President for Student Engagement & Dean of Students, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. | |
Johnson Controls Renews UACCM Workforce Development Grant | |
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The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) received a $100,000 grant for the second year as part of the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program. This funding enhances on-campus training and educational opportunities for future leaders in the HVAC, digital, fire, and security industries. UACCM, alongside Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, remains committed to addressing the skilled trades gap through strategic investments to equip the future skilled trades workforce and foster strong communities. With last year's funding, UACCM invested 50% of the grant toward new trainers and equipment and the remaining 50% for “last dollar” scholarships for HVAC students. The renewed funding will continue supporting UACCM workforce while opening doors for new initiatives and projects. In addition to financial support, Johnson Controls employees in the surrounding area will continue to engage with UACCM through mentoring programs. This collaboration provides students with valuable insights into the industry, helping them understand the promising career paths available to them upon completion of their training.
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Check out our ACC Jobs Facebook page.
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