POLICY and ADVOCACY

1. FY 2013 APPROPRIATIONS AGREEMENT SIGNED
On March 26, President Obama signed into law the FY 2013 continuing resolution agreement reached earlier in the month between the House and Senate. The Senate added three spending bills—Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science; and Homeland Security—to the two (Defense and Military Construction-VA) in the House measure. The Senate also approved several critical changes to priority programs including the military tuition language. Funding levels remain at the FY 2012 level, less a 0.2% across-the-board cut and the 5% cut mandated by sequestration for FY 2013. The Budget Control Act of 2011 exempted several programs from sequestration, particularly Pell Grants, for FY 2013.
AACC Contact: Laurie Quarles 

2. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION ON AN AACC COMMISSION
Nominations for the six AACC Commissions are now being accepted. Commission members provide advice to the AACC Board of Directors and staff and a forum for focused conversation about community college issues and priorities. CEOs and administrators from member colleges in good standing may be nominated or nominate themselves. People from organizations who work in areas that are relevant to the specific commissions' charges also may be elected. Submitting an official nomination form is required to get in the queue for consideration. AACC Affiliated Councils must submit nominations annually; reappointments are not automatic. Deadline for nominations: April 26, 2013.
AACC Contact: Dr. Angel M. Royal 

PROGRAM INITIATIVES

3. NN2 SURVEY ON TRENDS, NEEDS, IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION
The National Network of Health Programs in Two-Year Colleges (NN2) and Certified Background have joined with Melting Walls Consultants to conduct a qualitative study to gauge trends and needs in health professions education and the workforce. AACC member colleges are encouraged to take the survey. The results will provide community college health career program leaders and policymakers with best practices from peer institutions and identify possible barriers to address that may improve successful completion rates.
AACC Contact: Roxanne Fulcher 

GRANTS and PARTNERSHIPS

4. APPLY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching invites colleges to apply for its elective Community Engagement Classification, by which institutions can describe their identity and commitment to community with a nationally recognized classification. Only 20 community colleges are among the 311 institutions recognized since 2006. Colleges intending to apply must register by June 30, 2013; applications are due April 15, 2014. Assistance in preparing for the classification is available through a May 22 workshop at the Community College National Center for Community Engagement conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The next opportunity to apply for the classification will be in 2019.
AACC Contact: Gail Schwartz 

5. COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR PROGRAM WITH INDONESIA
Proposals for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Community College Administrator Program with Indonesia are due April 19, 2013. Proposals must provide for the administration and implementation of a 6-week exchange program in the United States for Indonesian officials with higher education planning responsibilities and administrators from postsecondary vocational and technical institutions in Indonesia.
AACC Contact: Alice Blayne-Allard

NEWS and SOCIAL NETWORKING

6. “FORMER JUDGE KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH HIS ACTIVIST ROOTS” 
Retired California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso attributes his success in life to attending Fullerton College in California. Reynoso is one of the winners of the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Awards. Read more about him and the other award winners in Community College Times.
AACC Contact: Matt Dembicki 

7.  COMMUNITY COLLEGES HIT HARDEST BY RECESSION
The Delta Cost Project reports that community colleges were among the hardest hit by the recession. Read about it in the February/March issue of Community College Journal. All staff on AACC member campuses have free access to the digital magazine with a simple log-in.
AACC Contact: Sarah Lawler   

RESOURCES

8. GET THE AACC CONVENTION APP
Coming to the Annual Convention? Download the free mobile app! Compatible with most devices, including Apple, Android, and the mobile Web, the app will help you navigate the meeting, making the most of your time. Search sessions, add them to your calendar, browse the exhibit hall, get up-to-the-minute alerts, and so much more.
AACC Contact: Delinda Frazier 

9. SPECIAL SALE ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESS BOOKS
Community College Press will be selling selected titles at a 40% discount April 8–30. Take advantage of this great opportunity to stock your bookshelf with resources designed specifically for community college professionals.
AACC Contact: Deanna D’Errico 

10. REGISTER NOW FOR FREE OVAE WEBINAR
The second webinar in a series hosted by ED’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education, in collaboration with AACC and ACCT, will be held April 10 at 1:30 p.m. (ET). It will focus on promising community college correctional and reentry education models. Register online for the webinar.
AACC Contact: Gail Schwartz 

11. NEW TOOLS FOR STUDENT BORROWERS
ED announced new tools that will help recent college grads better understand their loan debt and stay on track in repayment. Included are a Complete Counseling Web page and a Repayment Estimator that lets the borrower easily compare monthly payment options under the seven plans available.
AACC Contact: Norma Kent 

12. UNDERSTANDING FOREIGN CREDENTIALS
Please join Global Talent Bridge on April 11 at 2:00 p.m. for the free webinar, Understanding the Credential Evaluation. This webinar will assist community colleges with gaining a clear understanding the credential evaluations and the vital role they play in helping immigrant students with employment, professional licensure, and pursuing further education. 
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian

13. GET THE GUIDE TO GOING GREEN
Is your college considering new green programs of study? Does your college need tools to be strategic in developing and sustaining green programs? One AACC SEED member college, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, with funding from the Kresge Foundation, has created a road map for you with the handbook Defining Your College’s Competitive Advantage in the Emerging Green Economy: A How-to-Guide to Building High-Quality, Strategic Green Programs of Study. It provides tools to help you choose green programs that are right for your college and highlights strategic approaches to color your college green.
AACC Contact: Katya Nekrasova 

14. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF INTERNATIONALIZATION
Each year, NAFSA: Association of International Educators releases a report illustrating the contributions that international students and their dependents make to the U.S. economy. To help college leaders make the case for international education locally, the report includes a breakdown of the economic impact by state, congressional district, and institution. Visit the NAFSA website to access your state's Economic Impact Analysis and study abroad participation rates. 
AACC Contact: Wayne Wheeler

15. ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITH ASEE
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) seeks to more fully engage and collaborate with community college faculty and administrators of engineering science and engineering technology programs. Visit ASEE’s website for more information on ASEE resources and opportunities for community colleges, and create a log-in and password to be included in future communications and activities.
AACC Contact: Ellen Hause 

16. OPPORTUNITIES IN OMAN
The U.S. Department of State has organized an education webinar, Direct Line for American Business: Opportunities in Oman’s Higher Education Sector, to be held April 22, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Hosted by the U.S. ambassador to Oman, with a special guest from Oman's Ministry of Higher Education, participants will learn about the government scholarship program launched in 2011 to send 500 or more Omani students to the United States for undergraduate education every year for the next 5 years.
AACC Contact: Wayne Wheeler

EVENTS and SERVICES

17. HONE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Applications are being accepted for the Roueche-Future Leaders Institute, a leadership seminar designed for midlevel community college administrators, and the Future Presidents Institute, an intensive program designed for senior-level community college administrators on a direct path to the presidency. Both institutes are scheduled for June 23–28, 2013, in Baltimore, Maryland, and will feature presentations by leading experts in the field, as well as activities designed to allow you to hone your leadership skills.
AACC Contact: Jennifer Tinch 

18. FORM PARTNERSHIPS AT NAFSA
AACC is once again cooperating with NAFSA: Association of International Educators to offer institutions the opportunity to participate in the Higher Education Partnership Fair at the 2013 NAFSA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. The goal of the fair is to bring international education leaders together to learn about possibilities for developing institutional partnerships. Anticipated attendance is more than 8,000 international educators from 100 countries.
AACC Contact: Wayne Wheeler

19. GET A RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT WITH CRD
Consider sending your resource development staff person to the CRD Resource Development Boot Camp, June 2–14 at Montgomery College in Maryland and Washington, DC.  This intensive, 2-week training program will cover all aspects of resource development to include grant management, alumni development, and major gifts.
AACC Contact: Mary Heiss  

20. CONFERENCE FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS AND STUDIES
The Association of American Colleges and Universities, in partnership with the California Institute of Integral Studies, will host Expanding the Circle, a 3-day institute that creates an inclusive environment and highlights best practices for integrating LGBTQ issues/concerns in higher education. The conference will be held June 24–27, in San Francisco, California. For early bird rates, register by April 15.
AACC Contact: Kevin Christian