ACCT National Legislative Summit shows power of partnership in time of policy uncertainty
I was honored to be part of a delegation from Howard Community College that traveled to Washington, D.C., for the annual Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit. This national gathering of trustees, presidents, and lawmakers discusses policies impacting the nation’s two-year institutions and shares strategies for better serving our students, employees, and communities.
Community colleges nationwide have adopted an aggressive agenda for their 2025 legislative priorities. They include:
Expanding Pell Grants by increasing awards by $200, granting eligibility to students in short-term workforce development programs, and making the grants tax-free for all recipients.
Increasing funding for child care access, supplement education grants, basic needs provision, federal work-study, and institutional aid programs serving underrepresented student populations.
Increased funding for U.S. Department of Labor workforce training grants.
Improving SNAP benefits to decrease barriers to food access on campus and eliminating income standards for students in workforce apprenticeships to maintain eligibility for these benefits.
Enacting the DREAM Act to support undocumented student enrollment and eligibility for Title IV funding.
The highlight of our trip was a productive meeting with our federal elected officials, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. We shared our concerns about these student support areas and asked questions about funding in the Department of Education. They are committed to all of Maryland’s 16 community colleges and protecting students’ access to high-quality education and quality of life as they pursue their dreams.
I am grateful to Interim Board Chair Vivian Moore Lawyer and our tremendous partners at ACCT and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges for scheduling our collective legislative meetings. I also appreciate our peer trustees, presidents, and senior leaders at community colleges nationwide for building a national coalition behind the vibrancy of our institutions.
While the road ahead regarding educational policy is uncertain, we know that working together will position our state and our nation for a prosperous future.