In this episode, we talk about the process and outcomes of a Futures Committee in Arkansas that looked at designing the college of 2035 using the design principles of Foresight. 

Speaker(s):

• Andrea Henderson, executive director of Arkansas Community Colleges
• Martin Eggensperger, president of Black River Technical College (BRTC)
• Wade Derden, executive vice president for advancement and government relations at National Park College

Long Beach City College (LBCC) Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz discusses the transformational changes taking place at LBCC to support students and give everyone a sense of belonging.

Reading Area Community College (RACC) recently launched a $19.6 million project to renovate and redesign Weitz Hall, turning it into the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion. The Weitz Healthcare Pavilion will dramatically increase classroom and lab spaces for the 14 healthcare programs currently at RACC and allow for nine new healthcare programs.

Guests:

• Dr. Susan Looney, president of RACC
• Tony DeMarco, executive director of the Foundation for RACC and the vice president of advancement

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) hosts one of the most significant professional development events for leaders in community colleges and providers engaged with the two-year college sector. This event includes high-energy keynote presentations and breakout sessions addressing the sector's most pressing issues and opportunities, disruptive technology showcases, deep-dive problem solving work sessions, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

In this episode we talk to 

• Dr. Keith Curry, president of Compton College
• Dr. Michael Gavin, president of Delta College

For more information about joining Dr. Curry and Dr. Gavin in their DEIA work, email Dr. Gavin.

This episode is about the Grow with Google program at Dallas College. Our guest is Greg Morris, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Services at Dallas College.

Public service industries, including police and fire departments, have an express need for completing educational benchmarks allowing for promotions and pay increases. Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) excels at partnering with area industry to meet expressed needs. Through industry discussion several educational models were developed to advance those working in our public service industries. We will present established models developed for the Department of Corrections, Police, Fire and Paramedic departments in the BCTC service area.

Speaker(s):

• Dr. Melanie Williamson, Academic Dean, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC)
• Holly Clifford, Assistant Dean for the Communications, History, Languages, and Social Sciences Division, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC)
• Dr. Valdis J. Zeps, Academic Dean, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC)

In this episode we talk about how Harper College and Achieving the Dream (ATD) are using their MacKenzie Scott charitable gifts to reach populations struggling against inequities. 

Guests: 

• Dr. Avis Proctor, president of William Rainey Harper College
• Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream (ATD)

In this episode we talk about engaging adjuncts to promote student success. Record live at AACC Annual in 2023.

Guests:

• Michael Baston, President of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
• Lisa Williams, Campus President of the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Western Campus
• Lindsay English, Assistant Provost and Vice President of Learning & Engagement for Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)

Learn more about the Pepsico Foundation: https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/philanthropy/pepsico-foundation

Learn more about how Pepsico Foundation helps community college students: https://www.pepsico.com/our-stories/press-release/pepsico-launches-40-million-community-college-program-to-support-4000-black-and-03302021

In this episode, we talk to Betsy Conway about the Lowe's Foundation Gable Grants Program.

Applications are due April 10, 2023. Learn more and apply: http://lowes.com/foundation

The Lowe’s Foundation has launched a five-year, $50 million effort to help community colleges and other community-based organizations prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.

The first round of the Gable Grants will focus on community and technical colleges, through which the foundation aims to address the skilled trades labor shortage, with a focus on young adults, especially from underrepresented and rural communities. April 10 is the deadline to apply.

The skilled trades is in a workforce crisis, with 85% of contractors reporting trouble finding skilled workers, according to the foundation. An estimated 546,000 new skilled tradespeople are needed to meet the demand in 2023 alone, on top of the normal hiring.

More about our guest: 

As the director of the Lowe’s Foundation, Betsy is responsible for the strategic execution of the new Gable Grants program, which provides grants to community and technical colleges and community-based nonprofit organizations that prepare individuals for careers in the skilled trades. She has been with Lowe’s since 2019 and previously served as director, community relations, in which she led community partnerships in the Charlotte region and the company’s volunteer program.