American Association of Community Colleges: Championing Community Colleges Nationwide
Founded in 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) stands as a prominent national voice and resource center for over 1,000 community colleges. With its headquarters in Washington D.C., the AACC plays a pivotal role in promoting the interests of community colleges and bolstering their significance within the American education landscape.
AACC's Mission and Goals
AACC’s mission is to "Build a Nation of Learners by Advancing America’s Community Colleges." The organization aims to provide a national voice and advocacy for community colleges, facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, offer leadership and career development opportunities, and serve as a national information resource. AACC is committed to enhancing the recognition of community colleges' roles in serving society today.
Leadership and Governance
The AACC is led by key figures such as its president and chief executive officer, Walter G. Bumphus, who announced his retirement in February 2025. The association is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors, ensuring a broad representation of community college interests. In April of 2023, the AACC named Mott Community College President Beverly Walker-Griffea CEO of the Year. Recently, the AACC announced that Drake State President, Dr. Patricia Sims, was elected to the AACC Board.
Key Programs and Initiatives
AACC runs several key programs and initiatives designed to support community colleges and their students:
21st Century Initiative
AACC’s strategic plan aimed at increasing the number of college-educated Americans and ensuring that community colleges remain pivotal in higher education and workforce development.
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Pathways Project
This project helps community colleges design and implement structured academic and career pathways, ensuring students achieve their educational and career goals efficiently.
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
Funded by the National Science Foundation, this program focuses on improving educational programs for technicians in high-tech STEM fields.
Advocacy and Collaboration
In addition, AACC is a member of "The Six" large, presidentially based associations dealing with higher education policy, and it collaborates with a range of organizations within the higher education community to monitor and influence federal policy and to collaborate on issues of common interest. AACC advocates on behalf of community colleges at the federal level, forging relationships with Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and prominent businesses. AACC will present an update from the legal perspective on implementation, enforcement, and challenges for community colleges. This webinar is open to AACC members.
Events and Conferences
AACC hosts several events each year, including the AACC Annual Convention, which is one of the largest gatherings of community college professionals. The convention provides a platform for networking, professional development, and addressing current challenges and innovations in community college education. AACC Annual 2026 will take place April 10-14, 2026, in Seattle, WA. AACC is accepting abstracts for consideration for the 2026 annual conference agenda until October 3. It is your turn to share your expertise and help shape the future of education.
Impact and Reach
The annual AACC analysis of federal data also shows that 53% of Native American undergrads, 39% of Black undergrads and 34% of Asian/Pacific Islander undergrads attend public two-year colleges. Overall, headcount enrollment at community colleges increased 3.9% from fall 2023 to fall 2024, reaching 10.5 million (6.4 million in credit and 4.1 million on the non-credit side). More than one in five (20.4%) of full-year, unduplicated headcount students in the academic year 2022-23 were high school students. The AACC awarded scholarships to the top twenty community college students.
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tags: #American #Association #of #Community #Colleges #information
