On Monday, June 6, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and ACTE Educational Institution Member Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) held a briefing on Capitol Hill on the importance of community colleges in preparing students for success. SLCC President Deneece Huftalin joined a panel of experts to share with congressional staff the need for federal policies, including the Higher Education Act (HEA) and Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, to support postsecondary students in pursuing their education.
During the event, panelists emphasized the particular considerations and circumstances that affect community college students but are often overlooked in federal policy discussions. Community college students tend to be older than their counterparts at four-year universities, are often balancing their studies with full- or part-time work, and are often first-generation college attendees. These different circumstances necessitate different policy prescriptions to support community college students, such as reforming financial aid policies (particularly those related to Pell Grants) to support short-term job training programs and improving federal data collection systems to reflect the accomplishments of individuals who are not first-time, full-time students.
ACTE echoes the need for increased recognition of the importance of community colleges in providing postsecondary education to millions of students nationwide. To learn more about ACTE’s recommendations for HEA reauthorization, click here.
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