Washington Is Moving—Are Community Colleges Ready?

If there is one message coming out of Washington right now, it’s this: things are moving quickly, and community colleges need to be paying attention. The recent ACCT policy update highlights a mix of risk and opportunity, but four areas stand out: the growing Pell Grant shortfall, the rollout of Workforce Pell, the proposed federal budget, and a new round of grant opportunities. None of this is abstract. These are the levers that will directly shape access, affordability, and workforce training in our communities over the next several years. 

The Pell Grant situation is probably the most urgent. Increased FAFSA completion and expanded eligibility, both good things, have led to a projected funding gap that could require significant new investment from Congress as soon as FY27. The encouraging news is that there appears to be bipartisan support for protecting the program. The challenge is that a gap of this size doesn’t solve itself, and until Congress acts, uncertainty will remain. For rural colleges, where Pell is often the difference between a student enrolling or not, this is something we need to stay engaged on from an advocacy standpoint. 

At the same time, Workforce Pell is starting to take shape in ways that could be a real opportunity. The proposed rules would allow Pell to support short-term programs, but with clear expectations around completion rates, job placement, and earnings outcomes. That means this isn’t just about launching new programs; it’s about designing programs that truly work. Colleges that can align with local workforce needs and demonstrate results will be in a strong position, particularly if they are coordinating across academic, workforce, and financial aid teams from the start. 

Layer on top of that a federal budget proposal that includes both support for Pell and significant cuts or eliminations to programs like TRIO, Work-Study, and others, and it becomes clear that we’re entering a period of real transition. But there are also immediate opportunities, including new rounds of workforce-focused grants like the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. My takeaway is simple: this is a moment to stay engaged and be proactive. Advocate where it matters, but also prepare internally so your institution is ready to move when these opportunities become real.

It seems that every week we read about another higher education institution closing, merging, cutting programs, laying off faculty and staff, experiencing declining enrollment, and/or slashing their budgets. We are experiencing a time of demographic cliffs, dwindling public support, and political headwinds. Whether higher education is experiencing a true reckoning or not will be left up to history.

During this time of concern and unrest, hope springs eternal. At Miles Community College (MCC), the institution that I have the honor of leading, we remain focused on our students and why they are here. In simplest terms, they enroll for two reasons: Hope and Opportunity. The Hope for a better life and the Opportunity to make that hope a reality! 

At MCC, we wholeheartedly embrace our open access mission. Regardless of whether our student desires to transfer or go straight into the workforce, we honor their desire and focus on making it a reality. This work not only benefits our student but it also has positive ripples within their families, communities, our state, and our nation. We are the economic engine that allows our students and communities to thrive.  

Five years ago, we set a very ambitious goal of doubling our annualized student headcount. We did this not to grow our infrastructure. We did this to grow our impact! We did this to fully live out our college mission. I am happy to share that five years later we have done it! During the 20/21 academic year, MCC’s annualized student headcount was 943. This year we are at 1,927.  

All of this growth occurred without adding one single square foot of facilities. We embraced our open access mission and focused on the non-degree seeking students who are traditionally first-generation, scared of leaving home, and worried about the cost. We created a new program called Opportunity Realized which allows these students to experience a college course designed to prepare them for the workforce regardless of whether they want to go further or not. This Career Development & Interpersonal Skills class is at the core of this program. It allows them to do some career exploration while at the same time learning the soft skills that employers want. One of the most exciting developments from the Opportunity Realized Program is that the vast majority of these students choose to continue on and take a second and sometimes third course.  

At MCC, we are meeting our students where they are and I am thrilled to say they are thriving because of it. We are helping them turn their Hope and Opportunity into a reality. At rural community colleges like ours, hope truly springs eternal.

Dr. Ron Slinger

President

Miles Community College

At Eastern Maine Community College, workforce training is designed with one goal in mind, strengthening Maine’s workforce by building skills that matter right now.

This spring, 20 students in EMCC’s 200-hour Oil Burner Technician training took a major step forward. Offered in partnership with Dead River Company and supported by the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, the program provided hands-on experience in a real-world training environment. These participants were already working in the field. This training allowed them to deepen their expertise, expand their certifications, and increase their value to their employers. Upon completion, graduates earned industry-recognized credentials that allow them to take on more advanced work immediately.

Programs like this are built around the needs of Maine employers. From day one, students are developing skills they can apply on the job right away, using the same equipment and standards they encounter in the field. Employers gain more highly trained workers, businesses can take on more work, and communities see improved service and reliability in essential industries.

For rural communities, where access to skilled workers is critical to economic stability, this kind of upskilling makes a meaningful difference. Workers are able to grow in their careers without leaving their communities, and employers are better equipped to meet demand. The result is stronger local economies and a more resilient workforce across the state.

Learn more about Easter Maine Community College at https://www.emcc.edu/.

CCRI Lands $1M Lowe's Foundation Grant for Skilled Trades

The Community College of Rhode Island was awarded a $1 million Gable Grant from the Lowe's Foundation to expand its Electrical Apprenticeship and Ready to Build programs. The funds will support two new lab spaces and a credit-bearing pathway leading to a construction management certificate and degree. The Lowe's Foundation has now awarded $43 million in Gable Grants to 60 community and technical colleges across 28 states as part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to skilled trades training.

Read the full article.