WASHINGTON — Community college presidents and trustees gathered on Monday at the Community College National Legislative Summit to discuss current issues affecting higher education, including the need for increased funding and more student advocacy.
The summit, hosted by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), is being held in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 9-12.
Conference sessions on Monday focused on federal legislative policy priorities and looked at how to prepare community college students and leaders for their meetings with congressional figures on Capitol Hill.
During a morning session at the summit, ACCT’s and AACC’s representatives focused on Pell grants and the need to broaden them.
In order to qualify for Pell grants, a program must be at least two-thirds of a year in length. Many community colleges offer short-term, workforce-oriented programs that aren’t eligible for these grants. Speakers suggested that Pell grants be established for shorter-term programs. They also said the maximum Pell grant award should be increased in order to reduce the cost of attendance for low-income students.
According to the conference’s information sheet, 59% of students at community colleges receive aid, including from grants, loans, states and institutions.
In addition, speakers highlighted the need to overturn the ban on Pell grants for incarcerated individuals. For more than 25 years, incarcerated individuals have been prohibited from using Pell grants to cover tuition, fees and course materials.
