Association of Community College Trustees

Harnessing the tremendous capacity of community colleges to contribute to global workforce needs and sustainability, and ensuring access to global learning for all students. THANK YOU to William Gertz and THE CYRIL TAYLOR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION for supporting this work, to Association of Colleges for partnering with Association of Community College Trustees, and to Presidents Lisa Avery and Eric Friedman and their teams for embarking on this journey with us! #intled #InternationalEducation #communitycollege #workforce #sustainability

ACCT and AoC Launch International Partnership to Exchange U.S., UK Students Electric Vehicle, Sustainable Construction Programs Chosen for First Phase The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is pleased to announce the launch of the U.S.-UK Community College and Technical Education Exchange. With generous support from the THE CYRIL TAYLOR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, ACCT in collaboration with the UK’s Association of Colleges (AoC) will pair U.S. community colleges with UK counterparts to develop student exchange programs focused on sustainability and green skills. “We are enthused by this innovative opportunity to build on our longstanding partnership with AoC,” said ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “It is our hope that the first phase will catalyze an expansion to include more colleges throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, given high interest levels on both sides of the Atlantic and the importance of the programs offered. We’re excited to begin this collaboration.” "The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation is proud to be able to enable this innovative exchange between UK colleges of further education and community colleges in the United States," said William L. Gertz, a trustee of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation and chairman of the American Institute For Foreign Study. "The focus on sustainability is indicative of our forward momentum and our investment in the best possible future for our students and our countries." For the initial cohort, Linn-Benton Community College (Ore.) will partner with Cambridge Regional College in England to develop a program focusing on electric vehicles, and Bergen Community College (N.J.) will collaborate with Southport College in England in the area of sustainable construction. The four colleges were selected from a robust pool of applicants from both the U.S. and the UK, and will be supported by ACCT and AoC experts in designing their exchange programs. “In an increasingly interconnected world, community colleges and technical education have a critical role to play in preparing students to succeed in a global workforce, and in tackling the grand global challenges of our time,” said ACCT Vice President for Membership and Educational Services @Robin Matross Helms, who is leading the effort on behalf of ACCT. “We are excited to provide a pathway to collaboration for this initial group of colleges, and hope this will open the door for many more workforce-focused global partnerships down the road.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSRzPKxe

Tonight's opening ACCT Leadership Congress general session featured a promising, provocative, instructive and cautionary overview of AI's uses in community colleges by Melissa Loble Chief Academic Officer of Instructure and a gracious welcome from Paul Francis, Executive Director of Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Bertha Ortega, President, Washington State Association of College Trustees; and Amy Morrison, Chair, Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges. What did you take away from tonight's opening session?

Thanks to the Muckleshoot Canoe family for the warm welcome to Seattle!

Come play in the AI Lab this week to get some hands-on experience and have some fun at #ACCT2024!

The 2024 ACCT Leadership Congress is kicking off with a bang in Seattle! Are you with us in Seattle? Share your experiences and lessons learned with #ACCT2024z

We are sad about the passing of George W. Little, a former chair of the ACCT Board of Directors and trustee from Sandhills Community College, who served from 1981 until his passing last Friday. Many of our members will recognize him from his decades of participation in the ACCT Leadership Congress, where George has assisted for many years with Senate meeting elections. George, thank you for your dedicated lifelong service. Rest peacefully.

Attention, trustees! ACCT has partnered with the Center for the Study of Community Colleges to conduct a comprehensive survey of community college trustees. This survey will yield important insights into who serves on community college boards, what their greatest priorities are, what their greatest challenges are, and much more, which will inform the services and resources we provide. Please complete the survey and encourage everyone on your board to take the survey. College presidents/chancellors and professional board staff, you can help by encouraging your boards to complete the survey. It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. Thank you in advance! SURVEY LINK: https://lnkd.in/eXqnwppS

ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee (right) thanks the New York Community College Trustees of SUNY for hosting him this weekend. Pictured with Trustees Anthony Colon from Mohawk Valley Community College, Allen Williams from Monroe Community College, LeRoy W Mitchell from SUNY Westchester Community College and David Mathis from Mohawk Valley Community College—all current or past members of the ACCT Board of Directors.

Thanks to the leadership at SUNY Orange for showing ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee around campus today!