Latest news with #AlabamaCommunityCollegeSystem
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama Community College System says it's concerned, prepared for federal funding cuts
The head of the Alabama Community College System speaks to board members at the system's monthly board meeting on June 11, 2025, at Snead State Community College in Boaz, Alabama. Jimmy Baker told board members that he is worried about budget cuts to federal student aid, but is prepared for a "soft landing."(Screenshot, ACCS YouTube) The head of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) said Wednesday that he is concerned about potential cuts to federal financial aid, but also that the system has enough funds in reserve for a 'soft landing.' 'We see it as our mission to make sure that whatever happens at the federal level with the federal dollars, we can manage a soft landing, and we are in a position to do that,' ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker said at the monthly meeting of the ACCS Board of Trustees Wednesday morning. 'I don't like the idea that just because some legislation passes, we have to jump and threaten people with their jobs and those kinds of things.' President Donald Trump's budget proposal, passed in the U.S. House and currently awaiting action in the Senate, includes a 23% reduction to the federal Pell Grant and increasing credit hour eligibility from 12 to 15 hours. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Pell Grant is given to students based on their expected family contribution, among other academic factors, and often goes to students with 'exceptional financial need,' according to the Federal Student Aid Office. According to ACCS, its students receive an average of $4,300 in Pell Grants every year, about $500 less than the median ACCS yearly tuition. 'These would lead to some significant changes for our system, but we want our board to know that we are watching this closely, and we will see how this will play out,' Vice Chancellor of Student Success Neil Scott said. 'But we are already putting contingency plans in place for the areas that may impact our colleges.' Baker said he did not expect things to be 'pleasant.' 'It's not going to be easy. But I see the move with the federal dollars in education diminishing,' Baker said. 'So we have to adjust ourselves, and we can do a lot of that. We're going to do a lot of that because our ultimate mission is offering quality programs to the communities that we serve.' Despite threats to federal financial aid, Scott announced Wednesday that enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester is up 29.36% over Fall 2024, or 7,976 more students than last year. Scott said that brings the total enrollment to-date to 35,143 across the system's 24 colleges. 'And we still have a couple of colleges that haven't begun registration for the fall yet, but of the 22 colleges that do have fall registrations posted, 21 of those are showing a head count increase,' Scott said.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate OKs program for high school dropouts to earn diplomas
Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, stands in the Alabama House of Representatives on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday to create a program allowing high school dropouts to get their diplomas through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, would be known as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act. A 17-year-old student can leave high school early if their parents agree and after an exit meeting. The exit interview informs the parent or guardian about the potential negative impacts of dropping out, such as lower future earnings and a higher chance of unemployment, and the student is provided with information on the 'detrimental impacts and effects of early withdrawal.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The REACH Act would require students to be provided with information during the exit interview on options available after dropping out, and require local education boards to report to the Alabama State Department of Education on student withdrawal rates. The bill passed with no discussion on a 34-0 vote and goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. The Alabama Community College System endorsed the bill at its March meeting. Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs, said then that more students would be able to take advantage of the system's adult education program, and the 'State Department of Education to get better data.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drake State Community and Technical College opens newest training complex
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Drake State Community and Technical College hosted a ribbon-cutting for its new Leidos Advanced Training Complex on Friday. Several notable community members spoke, like Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims and Leidos CEO Tom Bell, as well as elected officials and community leaders. City of Huntsville continues plan to expand Maple Hill Cemetery The ribbon cutting marked the opening of the new 50,000-square-foot facility on campus. It will support education and training for fields like aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. It will also house programs like welding and precision machining. The complex will house the new cohort of Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education students. 'The Leidos Advanced Training Complex represents a transformative investment in workforce education and regional economic growth,' said Dr. Sims. 'This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to expand training opportunities in high-demand industries such as precision machining and welding, preparing our students for the careers of tomorrow while strengthening the talent pipeline for our local and national partners. I want to thank our state elected officials, the Alabama Community College System, and Leidos for supporting this transformative project.' The complex was marked as a key initiative through the Alabama Community College System's ASPIRE 2030 plan. It was made possible by a statewide bond issue passed by the state legislature in 2020 to assist with facility upgrades and new construction. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'The facility here will effectively serve Drake State students and North Alabama for a long time,' said ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. 'We are in the business of making life better for everyone. It's our job and mission to make sure every area of this state has the resources needed to provide training and support economic development. The innovation and talent that will be produced at this training complex will be among the best in the state.' Leidos announced a $1.75 million donation to Drake State in November 2024. The donation went toward the college's advanced manufacturing and IT programs, student apprenticeships, campus technical and infrastructure upgrades, a new scholarship endowment and faculty development opportunities. They broke ground on the building on June 9, 2023, and it features 10 laboratories, seven classrooms, multiple offices, a multipurpose room, specialized tools and storage areas, to name just a few new features. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Community College System approves legislative agenda
Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs for the Alabama Community College System, speaks at the monthly board meeting on March 12, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama. Kinard presented a legislative update to the ACCS Board of Trustees. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Community College System approved its legislative agenda at its monthly board meeting on Wednesday. With the Legislature almost halfway through the 2025 session, some of ACCS' priorities have already made it through both chambers of the Legislature. Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs, told the board that HB 102, sponsored by Rep. Jeanna Ross, R-Guntersville, passed and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Kay Ivey. 'Every kid in the state, regardless of your zip code, who wants to take advantage of a dual enrollment course, this bill will allow them to do that,' Kinard said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation prohibits school districts from preventing students from entering dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses for college credit at community colleges and universities. A request for comment from Ivey's office was sent Wednesday afternoon. Kinard also highlighted HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Mat Woods, R-Jasper, also known as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act. The legislation would create a program for high schoolers that drop out of high school to get their high school diploma from their previous high school. 'So this bill would expand this program and would allow more students to take advantage of it,' Kinard said. 'It would also require us to work with the State Department of Education to get better data.' The bill has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Kinard also said the system requested an amendment for a paid parental leave bill that would include community college educators. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, would provide up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave to state employees in most cases. 'Community college employees were inadvertently left out of the original version of the bill. We've engaged with the governor's office,' Kinard said. 'We've been able to add an amendment to the bill to add our community college employees to make sure that they can receive this benefit should this bill pass.' The system's agenda also supports the creation of a state lottery to fund scholarships for any Alabama resident to attend a state public, two-year community and technical college. Legislation for a state lottery and gaming failed on the last day of the 2024 session. So far, there have not been any bills filed to create a lottery. The board will meet on April 9 at Jefferson State Community College for its next meeting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
