The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization that represents more than 1,200 member institutions across the United States, briefed Congressional staffers Thursday on legislative priorities shared by community colleges and their industry partners.
Community colleges are seeking to address a mismatch between employer needs and the skill levels of available workers nationally. The AACC says that schools can help address that deficit, commonly referred to as the skills gap, by working directly with industry partners in areas as diverse as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, viticulture and petrochemical processing.
“The skills gap is nothing new but has grown more acute in many industries as the economy has gained steam, particularly where technical skills are essential,” said Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “Community colleges are front and center in addressing these needs.”
Among the association’s priorities is a call to Congress for continued support of the federal Pell grant program. According to the office of Federal Student Aid, students will be eligible for a maximum of $5,920 for 2017-2018.
“[The Pell grant program] is a workforce development program as well,” said David Baime, AACC’s senior vice president of government relations and policy analysis, adding that it helps thousands of low-income students fund their education.
Other existing federal programs that have served community colleges well are the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, among others. It is estimated that about half of new jobs through 2024 are projected to require “middle skills,” technical knowledge beyond a high school diploma, not necessarily requiring an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
AACC representatives were accompanied by community college presidents and industry leaders.
