When the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) released its 2012 Reclaiming the American Dream: Community Colleges and the Nation’s Future report, AACC President and CEO Walter Bumphus said he didn’t want the document to be something that sat on the shelf.

While raising awareness for community college reform is important — the original Reclaiming the Dream document lists seven recommendations for community colleges to consider as they ramp up student success — the ultimate goal of AACC’s 21st-Century Initiative is and has always been to equip administrators with the knowledge, tools and resources to usher in comprehensive, systemwide changes in a new era of accountability and economic demand.

Initial returns on those efforts began filtering in earlier this year when AACC released Empowering Community Colleges to Build the Nation’s Future: An Implementation Guide. A follow up to the 2012 Reclaiming the American Dream report, the guide featured dozens of promising reforms under way at the nation’s community colleges.

But our institutions have only scratched the surface of what is possible. Across the country, the hard work of change continues. To fuel these efforts, AACC is hosting a series of informational webinars.

Here are three upcoming events to put on your calendar.

Build a Manufacturing Pipeline
September 25, 2 p.m. EDT

This event will highlight one of the most innovative workforce models in the United States: a regional partnership between a consortium of colleges, a state manufacturing extension partnership, and the advanced manufacturing industry. The Massachusetts MACWIC has produced an industry-endorsed stackable credential model and a pipeline of talent for a range of manufacturing companies in need of skilled workers.

Speakers:

• Dale Allen, VP, Community Engagement, Quinsigamond Community College (Mass.)
• Bill Boswell, Senior Director, Partner Strategy, Siemens PLM
• Mark Troppe, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, NIST, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, US Department of Commerce
• Leslie Parady, Project Manager, MassMEP
• Todd Cohen, Director, Workforce Strategies, AACC

Register now.

Presidential Transitions in Higher Education
October 8, 1 p.m. EDT

Over the last three years, close to 600 leadership transitions have taken place at U.S. community colleges. This includes interim CEO appointments, appointment of new CEOs, and veteran CEOs changing jobs. Three veteran community college CEOs will discuss transition challenges, along with strategies to alleviate stress. Presenters will also offer tips for transitioning out of day-to-day activities in the field.

Speakers:

• Walter Bumphus, President and CEO, AACC
• Don Cameron, President Emeritus, Guilford Technical Community College (North Carolina)
• Jerry Sue Thornton, President Emeritus, Cuyahoga Community College (Ohio)

Register now.

Refocus the Community College and Redefine Institutional Roles
October 15, 1 p.m. EDT

To affect transformational change and meet 21st-century education and employment demands, community colleges must be willing to refocus their mission and redefine traditional institutional roles. This session will provide advice and promising practices from leaders engaged in that work.

Speakers for this event have not been announced.

Register now.

(Please note: Space is limited for these events. )

Looking for other topics of interest? Check out the full AACC webinar schedule or view recordings of past webinars in our Resources section.