Advertise on podcast: In the Know with ACCT

Challenging minds, sustainable solutions, global perspective. What happens when two students from the United Kingdom get an opportunity to study abroad at an American community college? ACCT Vice President of Membership and Educational Services, Robin Matross Helms, debriefs with two students who recently took part in the association’s US-UK Community College and Technical Education Exchange program.

CONGRESS RECAP: The following panel discussion was taken from the “Building Momentum for Innovative Dual Enrollment Pathways Policies” seminar, recorded during the 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Claire Brady, President of Glass Half Full Consulting, answers lingering questions about the role of artificial intelligence in higher education. She explains how trustees can use AI to make their jobs more effective, while keeping students and staff at the forefront of the tech revolution.   *This podcast episode was recorded live during the Regional Awards Luncheon at the 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 24, 2025.

In this second installment of ACCT’s dual enrollment/dual credit series, consultant Amy-Elle-Duke Benfield sits down with higher ed leaders from Texas and California to compare state programs and policies, and strategize ways to make systems more effective for students.

Honoring the past while empowering the future… America’s tribal colleges and universities provide a culturally rooted educational experience that prepares students for jobs in their local communities and beyond! In this episode, you'll hear from three tribal college alumni whose alma maters have laid the foundation for their professional journeys, inspiring impactful careers that are strengthening the local economies of their native lands. For more information about the importance of TCUs, check out the 2025 American Indian Higher Education Consortium Economic Impact Report!

Student success… The term is used all the time in higher ed spaces, but what does it truly mean? Over the last two decades , community colleges have been making a conscious effort to “meet students where they’re at”, addressing basic needs issues like hunger, childcare for student parents, veterans benefits and disability resources. But one of the most prominent issues leading to student stop out is still without a real solution... New America's Senior Policy Manager for Higher Education Policy, Edward Conroy, unveils details of a new study revealing just how big an impact housing insecurity is having on student retention on community college campuses.

AI is the future… and for a lot of people, that can seem a little scary. But it doesn’t have to be! In less than 30 days, community college trustees and administrators from around the country will be swarming the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana for the annual ACCT Leadership Congress. In this episode, one of our Congress sponsors, Element451, is giving our members a sneak preview of their conference session! They’ll tell us how community colleges can streamline processes while taking a load off their academic advisors and student services workers through the use of innovative artificial intelligence software.   Learn more about Element451 by visiting their website: www.element451.com Register for the 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress: https://acct.org/events/acct-leadership-congress

Dually enrolled students are becoming one of the fastest growing populations at community colleges! Earlier this year, ACCT launched a new project exploring innovative state strategies for community college funding and dual enrollment in the states of Texas and California. In this episode, consultant and guest host, Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, sits down with leaders from two Texas community colleges who were influential in the rollout of House Bill 8, which aims to increase the number of Texans with credentials of value.

In celebration of Student Parent Month, ACCT's Kids on Campus Director, Miya Simpson, sits down with the founder and CEO of Generation Hope, to discuss barriers to student parent success on college campuses. In this season premiere episode, Nicole Lynn Lewis details her journey through college as a single mother, highlighting the roadblocks she faced in securing adequate childcare, and the two-generation approach her organization is taking to drive systemic change nationwide.

The American people have spoken, and the results are in. President-elect Donald J. Trump is preparing to take on a second term in the the White House with an all new agenda and a Republican controlled  Congress behind him. This shift in power could mean a sweep of changes will be coming to the public education sector. ACCT’s Vice President of Public Policy, Carrie-Warick Smith, Director of Government Relations, Jose Miranda, and Senior Government Relations Associate, Genesis Santiago are here to analyze how community colleges could be affected by the election results.

Is filling out the FAFSA posing a challenge to your college students? Significant revisions have been made to the application within the last few years, but don’t fret! The ACCT public policy team breaks down all things FAFSA in their latest financial aid brief.

Former International President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Tala Alahmar, stopped by the ACCT office in Washington, D.C. to update the membership on her academic journey and professional goals following graduation from Oakland Community College and the University of Michigan. Alahmar was first introduced to the ACCT membership as a keynote speaker at the 2022 ACCT Leadership Congress in New York City, NY. Link to Full Congress Keynote Speech

Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology…The technology sector is advancing, and community colleges are finding themselves at the center of the innovation economy! On this episode of “In the Know”, Shalin Jyotishi from New America, breaks down the federal funding streams allocated through the CHIPS Act that are supplying community colleges with the resources needed to keep the workforce up to speed.

Did you know nearly one in ten undergraduate students are single mothers? Did you know nearly all of those single mothers are living at or near the poverty line? On this episode of in the know, ACCT’s Vice President of Public Policy, Carrie Warick-Smith is sitting down with Amber Angel from the ECMC Foundation. They’ll talk about how community colleges are aiming to provide more support to this growing student population and how the kids on campus project can be a reliable and effective solution for childcare needs.

Access to safe, reliable childcare can be one of the biggest barriers to adults looking to pursue higher education. The annual cost of childcare is surpassing the cost of college tuition in some states, and as a result, student parents are being pushed out of the retention pipeline. So how is ACCT addressing this basic needs issue? Steve Jurch, Associate Vice President for ACCT'S Center for Policy and Practice, leads this important discussion and provides us with an overview of the new Kids on Campus Initiative.   Guests: Laura Weeldreyer Executive Director, Maryland Family Network Hilda Pena-Alfaro Executive Director Child Development and Family Support, Mt. Hood Community College