AACC | AACC Letter - Issue #546

This electronic edition of the AACC Letter (Issue #546) is
sent to you as a member service from the American
Association of Community Colleges.
_____________________________________________

1. MONITORING THE MEDIA - National press continue to show high interest in the ways colleges are helping people and communities cope during the economic downturn. The New York Times published an article in November focusing on the rapid response program at the Community College of Allegheny County. This week, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Associated Press are focusing on colleges offering tuition waivers and other financial assistance to students directly affected by the events of Sept. 11 and the economic aftermath. If your college has similar programs, waivers or other forms of assistance available, this is an excellent time to "pitch" such a story to your local and regional media.

2. REGISTRATION FOR THE 2ND WORLD CONGRESS OF Colleges and Polytechnics set for March 24-27 in Melbourne is now available online. All registration and hotel bookings can be accessed via the Web, either directly or by downloading a pdf file of the registration form and faxing or mailing it with payment to the Congress Secretariat. The event will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and is expected to be the largest congress of vocational education and training ever held in Australia. See http://www.wfworldcongress.com for details and registration.
-Norma Kent, AACC ext. 209, nkent@aacc.nche.edu

3. THE COLLEGE BOARD ENCOURAGES TWO-YEAR institutions to attend its seminar on Recruiting International Students: A Roadmap for the Future, to be held in Baltimore, Md. Feb. 21-22, 2002. Staff at two-year and four-year institutions with responsibilities related to international student recruitment/admission, marketing, enrollment management, or institutional planning will be briefed on strategies and resources for overseas recruiting. The program will also provide information on the tools needed for a successful international program, security awareness for staff and students, and the impact of Sept. 11 on international education. For more information, see www.collegeboard.org/offals/pdfs/IntRecruit.pdf Direct e-mail inquiries to: oals@collegeboard.org.

4. STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships provide opportunities for Americans to study abroad in regions critical to U.S. national interest. Emphasized world areas include Africa, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Award amounts are from $2,500 for a summer session (six weeks or longer), to $4,000-$10,000 per semester or $6,000-$20,000 per academic year. Scholarships are for study in summer 02, fall 02 and/or spring 03. In order to apply, students must be U.S. citizens and enrolled as an undergraduate at a U.S. university, college or community college. Additional information and an online application are available at www.iie.org/nsep
-Judy Irwin, AACC ext. 233, jirwin@aacc.nche.edu

5. ON DEC. 11, AACC PRESIDENT BOGGS delivered testimony to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) that contested the application of the Commission on Collegiate Nurse Education (CCNE) for recognition by the Secretary of Education. AACC had already gone on record in opposition to CCNE's application, primarily on the basis that CCNE accredits baccalaureate and master's degree education programs only. Bogg's testimony sparked a lively discussion among committee members, who clearly grasped the intensity of the ongoing struggle between representatives of associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs. Ultimately the Committee voted unanimously to recommend that Education Secretary Paige approve CCNE's application. Staff of the Department of Education had previously made a similar recommendation.

6. THE FINAL FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2002 LABOR, HHS, and Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3061) remains incomplete as the 107th Congress heads into what is likely to be the last week of its first session. Community colleges have a great deal at stake in this legislation. Still to be determined is whether a $4,000 Pell Grant maximum (a $250 increase) will be retained-the Bush Adminstration is pressuring for a lower maximum, on the grounds that the cost of the program is burgeoning-and whether a large, 14 percent, increase in the Carl D. Perkins Act Basic State Grants will be retained. AACC is also fighting within this bill to ensure that community colleges are at the table in a study of nursing education and training needs that will be undertaken by DOL and DHHS. We are grateful to the many of you who have contacted your legislators in support of our positions on these key issues.
-David Baime, AACC ext. 224, dbaime@aacc.nche.edu

7. JAN. 28, 2002, IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY for the Basic Nurse Education and Practice Grant administered by the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the grant is to enhance the educational mix and utilization of the basic nursing workforce by expanding nurse practice arrangements and promoting career mobility. An estimated 22 awards will be issued to schools of nursing averaging $230,000 each. For more information on this grant, please contact Madeline Turkeltaub, at 301-443-6193 or visit the Web site www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants2002.

8. AACC FILED COMMENTS NOV. 30 WITH THE Department of Health and Human Services on the upcoming reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program Authority. AACC's comments focused on improving access to adult basic education for welfare recipients and creating incentives for states to encourage these students to complete a certificate or degree. To view these remarks, please visit the Legislative Issues link at www.aacc.nche.edu.
-Angela Manso, AACC ext. 249, Amanso@aacc.nche.edu

9. EARLY-BIRD FEES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED to attend the Workforce Development Institute (WDI). Register online at www.aacc.nche.edu by clicking on the WDI icon. WDI 2002 will be at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay (1-888-625-4988) Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2002. The outstanding program will feature keynotes from Assistant Secretary of Labor Emily DeRocco and Assistant Secretary of Education, Carol D'Amico, among others.

10. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT of Energy's Community College Institute of Science and Technology (CCI). CCI allows community college students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to participate in a 10-week paid summer internship performing basic and applied research with a mentor scientist at a Department of Energy National Laboratory. In addition, students attend enrichment programs related to technical communications, education and career opportunities, and scientific research performed at these laboratories. Applications are due by Feb. 1, 2002. Online information and online applications are available at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov or contact Todd Clark (todd.clark@science.doe.gov, 202-586-7174) or Cindy Musick (cindy.musick@science.doe.gov, 202-586-0987).

11. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS SPONSORING a "Workforce Recovery Conference, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, from 8:30 am- 4:30 pm at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center. DOL is sponsoring this day-long jobs and skills fair to help put the Washington, D.C., region back to work, particularly those affected by the aftermath of 9/11/01. Service providers and educational institutions are urged to exhibit. There is no fee for exhibitors. To secure an exhibit booth or for more information, e-mail: jobsfair@raskydc.com.
-Carolyn Teich, AACC ext. 228, cteich@aacc.nche.edu

12. DOES YOUR INSTITUTION HAVE A PROGRAM TO recruit students of color into science or engineering programs? AACC is collecting information on such programs for publication in a later article. If your college offers such a program, please contact Arnold Kee at 202-7280-200 x262 or akee@aacc.nche.edu.
-Arnold Kee, AACC ext. 262, akee@aacc.nche.edu

13. THE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP (NMP), a coalition of nonprofit organizations and broadcast networks, has announced January 2002 as National Mentoring Month. This annual, concentrated effort of national and local media activity combines with extensive community outreach. NMP estimates that almost 16 million young people could benefit from mentoring relationships, but only 500,000-750,000 are currently served. The goals of National Mentoring Month are to raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms; recruit individuals to mentor, especially in programs that have a waiting list of young people; and promote the rapid growth of mentoring by recruiting organizations to encourage their constituents to become mentors. Colleges with service learning programs may want to organize activities around National Mentoring Month. For more information, visit http://www.mentoring.org
-Gail Robinson, AACC ext. 254, grobinson@aacc.nche.edu

14. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE has a grant opportunity for Hispanic Serving Institutions. This grant program promotes and strengthens the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences. For more information, visit: http://faeis.tamu.edu/hep/menus/msgh~~1.htm.
-Kent Phillippe, AACC ext. 222, kphillippe@aacc.nche.edu

15. U.S. ARMY'S DISTANCE EDUCATION PROJECT, eArmyU, is looking for more colleges to provide online courses and degrees to enlisted personnel. The project will accept bids through Dec. 20 from accredited institutions interested in providing academic content. Contact: Margaret Rivera at mrivera@aacc.nche.edu.

16. READY2NET WILL BEGIN ITS SECOND YEAR of live sessions via satellite with simultaneous Web casts on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002. Programs include, "Looking Back to the Future: Collaboration & Convergence in International Distance Education." Program Sponsors are welcome. To see the R2N Web site from last year go to http://csumb.edu/ready2net. Contact: Arlene Krebs, 831-582-5025.

17. THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION of America (ITAA) will host its National IT Workforce Convocation May 6, 2002, in Arlington, Va. Bringing together leaders from industry, education, and government, this event will highlight effective programs nationwide that are expanding IT education and training opportunities and exploring ways to build America's IT workforce. For more information, visit http://www.itaa.org/workforce/. Contact: Marjorie Bynum 703-284-5318 or e-mail: mbynum@itaa.org

18. SEARCH JOB LISTINGS AND APPLY ONLINE. Take advantage of AACC's newly enhanced Career Center, viewed by over 3,000 visitors daily. Colleges can post job opportunities directly to our site. Users can also create and search resumes. The AACC Career Center features a section devoted to professional development. For more information, visit http://www.aacc.nche.edu/careerline.
--Erin Delmonte, AACC ext. 276, edelmonte@aacc.nche.edu

19. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! The Quotable Quotes section of the Feb./March 2002 issue of the Community College Journal asks: "What innovative program do you use to address alumni relations on your campus?" Replies should be brief but comprehensive and will be printed on a first-come, first-served basis. Send your responses to Cheryl Gamble, Editor, Community College Journal, cgamble@aacc.nche.edu.
-Cheryl Gamble, AACC ext. 215, cgamble@aacc.nche.edu

20. COMMUNITY COLLEGE TIMES' SECTION "Best Practices" welcomes innovative ideas from community colleges that can serve as models for other institutions. The Opinion page and Letters to the Editor encourage organizations and individuals to voice their perspectives on issues affecting community colleges. Best Practices and Opinion pieces run from 700-1,200 words, letters from 350 or less. Send to: nkent@aacc.nche.edu or kshek@aacc.nche.edu, or Community College Times, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 410, Washington, D.C. 20036-1176.
--Katherine Shek, AACC ext. 269, kshek@aacc.nche.edu

21. LOOKING FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR your staff or board? "America's Community Colleges: A Century of Innovation," published by Community College Press, chronicles 100 years of community colleges in a beautiful hardcover coffee-table book. Order online at www.aacc.nche.edu/bookstore or call 800-250-6557 to order. Order #1446. $50 AACC members/$60 nonmembers. Bulk discounts available.
-Sarah Lawler, AACC ext. 208, slawler@aacc.nche.edu