In the Know with ACCT

Hiring a new CEO or president can have lasting implications for a community college. So how can trustee boards ensure they're hiring the best candidate for the job? Julie Golder, Vice President for Search Services, sits down with two of our ACCT consultants to discuss best practices for an executive search and how the association can assist colleges in the process.   Learn more about all ACCT Sear...

The state of California has made huge strides in getting college leadership and state legislators to look at dual enrollment with fresh eyes. In this third installment of our dual enrollment series, consultant, Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield speaks with education advocates in California who are working to increase graduation rates through the expansion of early access opportunities.

Challenging minds, sustainable solutions, global perspective. What happens when two students from the United Kingdom get an opportunity to study abroad at an American community college? ACCT Vice President of Membership and Educational Services, Robin Matross Helms, debriefs with two students who recently took part in the association’s US-UK Community College and Technical Education Exchange progr...

CONGRESS RECAP: The following panel discussion was taken from the “Building Momentum for Innovative Dual Enrollment Pathways Policies” seminar, recorded during the 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Claire Brady , President of Glass Half Full Consulting, answers lingering questions about the role of artificial intelligence in higher education. She explains how trustees can use AI to make their jobs more effective, while keeping students and staff at the forefront of the tech revolution.   *This podcast episode was recorded live during the Regional Awards Luncheon at the 2025 ACCT Leadersh...

In this second installment of ACCT’s dual enrollment/dual credit series, consultant Amy-Elle-Duke Benfield sits down with higher ed leaders from Texas and California to compare state programs and policies, and strategize ways to make systems more effective for students.

Honoring the past while empowering the future… America’s tribal colleges and universities provide a culturally rooted educational experience that prepares students for jobs in their local communities and beyond! In this episode, you'll hear from three tribal college alumni whose alma maters have laid the foundation for their professional journeys, inspiring impactful careers that are strengthening...

Student success… The term is used all the time in higher ed spaces, but what does it truly mean? Over the last two decades , community colleges have been making a conscious effort to “meet students where they’re at”, addressing basic needs issues like hunger, childcare for student parents, veterans benefits and disability resources. But one of the most prominent issues leading to student stop out...

AI is the future… and for a lot of people, that can seem a little scary. But it doesn’t have to be! In less than 30 days, community college trustees and administrators from around the country will be swarming the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana for the annual ACCT Leadership Congress. In this episode, one of our Congress sponsors, Element451, is giving our members a sneak preview of their confer...

Dually enrolled students are becoming one of the fastest growing populations at community colleges! Earlier this year, ACCT launched a new project exploring innovative state strategies for community college funding and dual enrollment in the states of Texas and California. In this episode, consultant and guest host, Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, sits down with leaders from two Texas community colleges...

In celebration of Student Parent Month, ACCT's Kids on Campus Director, Miya Simpson , sits down with the founder and CEO of Generation Hope , to discuss barriers to student parent success on college campuses. In this season premiere episode, Nicole Lynn Lewis details her journey through college as a single mother, highlighting the roadblocks she faced in securing adequate childcare, and the two-g...

The American people have spoken, and the results are in. President-elect Donald J. Trump is preparing to take on a second term in the the White House with an all new agenda and a Republican controlled  Congress behind him. This shift in power could mean a sweep of changes will be coming to the public education sector. ACCT’s Vice President of Public Policy, Carrie-Warick Smith, Director of Governm...

Is filling out the FAFSA posing a challenge to your college students? Significant revisions have been made to the application within the last few years, but don’t fret! The ACCT public policy team breaks down all things FAFSA in their latest financial aid brief.

Former International President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Tala Alahmar, stopped by the ACCT office in Washington, D.C. to update the membership on her academic journey and professional goals following graduation from Oakland Community College and the University of Michigan. Alahmar was first introduced to the ACCT membership as a keynote speaker at the 2022 ACCT Leadership Congress in New Y...

Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology…The technology sector is advancing, and community colleges are finding themselves at the center of the innovation economy! On this episode of “In the Know”, Shalin Jyotishi from New America, breaks down the federal funding streams allocated through the CHIPS Act that are supplying community colleges with the resources needed to keep the workfor...

Did you know nearly one in ten undergraduate students are single mothers? Did you know nearly all of those single mothers are living at or near the poverty line? On this episode of in the know, ACCT’s Vice President of Public Policy, Carrie Warick-Smith is sitting down with Amber Angel from the ECMC Foundation. They’ll talk about how community colleges are aiming to provide more support to this gr...

Access to safe, reliable childcare can be one of the biggest barriers to adults looking to pursue higher education. The annual cost of childcare is surpassing the cost of college tuition in some states, and as a result, student parents are being pushed out of the retention pipeline. So how is ACCT addressing this basic needs issue? Steve Jurch, Associate Vice President for ACCT'S Center for Policy...

On this episode of "In the Know", ACCT's Sean Robins sits down with Annie Phillips from Education Strategy Group to discuss the progress of our joint Non-Credit Alignment Lab Initiative. The grant program was designed to identify best practices to equitably and effectively serve learners enrolled in non-credit programs at community colleges.

Appropriations bills, power transitions, funding deadlines…ACCT’s public policy team is here to get you all caught up on the latest action in Washington as our members prepare to meet with their legislators and advocate for their students at the 2024 Community College National Legislative Summit!

Black learner success. What is it? And are we really doing enough to ensure that it's thriving at our institutions? Dr. Keith Curry, President and CEO of Compton College analyzes the community college’s role in reaching a dwindling black student population and shares some of the strategies he’s implemented through his leadership positions.

This episode of "In the Know" features the third installment of our SNAP E&T grant partnership series. Camille Vega from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), and Stephany Barhorst from Lorain County Community College join us to discuss what it's like to serve as a third-party SNAP E&T provider, the challenges they've faced along the way, and the advice they have for community coll...

On this episode of “In the Know”, we dive deeper into the inner workings of the SNAP E&T grant program. Which contract structure is best suited for your institution? ACCT's Steve Jurch sits down with Nicole Braxton and Kate Kinder to talk about the pros and cons of using an intermediary model.

On this episode of “In the Know”,  Steve Jurch, Director of ACCT's Center for Policy and Practice, takes a closer look into our joint SNAP E&T grant partnership with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). APHSA Senior Policy Analyst, Brandy Whisman joins us as a guest to discuss the importance of third-party partnerships within the SNAP E&T landscape.

On this episode of "In the Know", we’re tackling all things mental health! We’ll sit down with a representative from TimelyCare and a licensed counselor at Amarillo College to discuss access to mental health services and trends we’re seeing among students on our campuses.

On this episode of in the know—ACCT’s Steve Jurch sits down with Bridgette Gray from Opportunity@Work and Kermit Kaleba from the Lumina Foundation to discuss a new project focused on creating a more efficient pipeline from community colleges to the workforce. We’ll discuss the importance of skills-based hiring and how it can help employers meet their need for competent workers while closing the em...