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Community college polices are frequently being updated. Keep current on the latest bans, free speech initiatives and safety protocols. Learn what schools are doing to increase funding in the midst of widespread budget cuts, determine the best practices to ensure safety on campus and get the latest on school controversies and student rights.

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Community Colleges Nationwide Joining in President Obamas Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge

Updated March 07, 2022

by Grace Chen

Community Colleges Nationwide Joining in President Obamas Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge

Learn about the number of colleges joining the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, which was introduced by the White House this past spring.

In March, President Obama put out a call to community colleges, universities and theology schools to come together despite their diverse faiths to make their communities a better place. Since the initial call went out from the White House, more than 240 schools have answered the challenge – a much larger number than the administration originally planned for. This movement has a twofold purpose; first, to cross religious lines and promote religious tolerance for college students across the country. The second purpose is to work together as a community to help those in need and protect the environment. With a growing population of postsecondary institutions jumping on the Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, it appears that the White House might get its wish on both counts.

This video reports on the White House meeting of the President's Interfaith Community Service Campus Challenge on August 3, 2011.

What is the Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge?

According to a report at WhiteHouse.gov, the Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge serves the ultimate goal of President Obama to emphasize faith and community involvement as a means of building understanding between diverse communities and contributing to the common good. As the President said in his address when he announced this challenge, “For over 200 years, Americans of all faiths have come together, put their shoulders to the wheel of history, and made this country what it is today. And I know that as we

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Community Colleges Receiving Grants to Ease the Pinch of Tighter Budgets

Updated July 23, 2020

by Grace Chen

Community Colleges Receiving Grants to Ease the Pinch of Tighter Budgets

Learn about a number of grants coming into community colleges across the country to help with budget shortfalls that have resulted from the Great Recession.

Since the Great Recession began a few short years ago, budgets have been a concern for community colleges, with less money coming in from their states. This problem is exacerbated by the unprecedented influx of students, from displaced workers seeking new training to high school graduates who can no longer afford a four-year university. Fortunately, some community colleges are seeing financial relief, as grants come in from a wide range of resources. We’ll take a look at some of the grants community colleges are receiving for the upcoming school year.

Grants Given to Ivy Tech for the Benefit of Military Students

Ivy Tech is the big winner in the grant offered to Indiana colleges by the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University. This community college received more than a half-million in funding from the foundation. The money was awarded based on Ivy Tech’s efforts to enhance services for student service members, veterans, and their families, according to a report at Inside Indiana Business.

The money is offered in 12 separate grants that will go to many of the Ivy Tech campuses across the state. The funds will be used for the following:

The development of a podcast that will be used to educate students and faculty and create a supportive environment for veterans
Enhancement of relationships between with community agencies that work with the military population, such as WorkOne and Veterans of Foreign Affairs
The creation of a “Boots to Suits” program to help veterans transition to

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As Community Colleges Set Budgets, Tough Decisions Must be Made

Updated May 03, 2022

by Grace Chen

As Community Colleges Set Budgets, Tough Decisions Must be Made

The economy continues to put community colleges between a rock and a hard place, with many making drastic budget cuts and raising tuition fees.

The economic downturn has made its presence felt throughout the country, as families and businesses are forced to tighten their belts and make difficult decisions about their spending habits. Community colleges are facing the same challenges, as severe budget cuts have forced many schools to make choices in staffing, degree programs, and enrollment.

As the deadlines for finalizing next year’s budgets are looming for many schools, we’ll take a look at what some of the community colleges across the nations are forced to do to make ends meet.

This video reports on a pending tuition increase in a local community college.

Cayuga Community College Hiking Tuition Rates

The Cayuga Community College Board of Trustees recently approved their latest budget for the upcoming academic year. According to a report at AuburnPub.com, the new budget will include a hefty tuition hike, as well as a request for additional funding from Cayuga County. The tuition increase will be a significant 7.25 percent jump after tuition was not raised at all during the previous academic year. This amount translates to a $260 increase, with full-time students now paying $3,820 per year and part-time students paying $150 per credit hour. College officials are predicting that the federal Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) will cover the increase for about 75 percent of the students that are currently receiving TAP.

Not everyone was in favor of the tuition increase. Board president John Camardo and board secretary Jane Bowen both voted against

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Smoke Free 2.0: Community Colleges Aboard the Smoking Ban Train

Updated March 07, 2022

by Grace Chen

Smoke Free 2.0: Community Colleges Aboard the Smoking Ban Train

More and more community colleges are jumping aboard the smoke-free train. Learn about many campuses going smoke free this year and even potential legislation banning smoking on campuses across a state.

Smoking has been banned in many public places today, from office buildings to restaurants. Now, more and more college campuses are leaping on the smoke-free bandwagon in hopes of creating environments that are cleaner and healthier for their students and staff. Even those that had no-smoking policies inside their buildings are now moving outdoors to the college quads and walkways to ban the habit there as well. We'll take a look at a number of community colleges across the country that are saying no to smoking on campus.

What the American College Health Association has to Say

The American College Health Association (ACHA) is an organization that provides advocacy, education, and communications to promote the health of college students and staff across the country. In 2009, the ACHA released a position statement on tobacco use at college and university campuses. According to the statement, ACHA acknowledges the Surgeon General's assessment that tobacco use of any form is a significant health hazard.

In light of this assessment, the ACHA has issued a No Tobacco Use policy and encourages college campuses to enforce a smoking ban in both indoor and outdoor areas. To that end, many community colleges are now adopting no-smoking policies that are consistent throughout the entire college campus, both indoors and out. Colleges that did provide areas for smokers in the past are now doing away with those locations and requiring students to actually leave the campus grounds completely before lighting up.

This video offers an overview of the

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Hands Across California: Community College Students Band Together to Save the System

Updated May 03, 2022

by Grace Chen

Hands Across California: Community College Students Band Together to Save the System

Facing a monumental budget crisis, California's community college students took matters into their own hands, holding rallies and conferences for Hands Across California.

California is in the midst of a very real budget crisis, and students of higher education are feeling the pinch just as much – if not more – than the rest of the state. According to a recent report at Mercury News, Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget cuts would trim another $400 million from community colleges and raise student fees by 40 percent. Some predict that the reduction would result in about 400,000 community college students not being able to get the courses they need to complete their degree programs. While lawmakers continue to debate the proposed budget and its effect on California residents, college students are taking matters into their own hands.

What is Hands Across California?

Hands Across California is the latest organized effort by Ken Kragen, known for his work with Hands across America, NetAid and We are the World fundraisers. Kragen entered the picture to help community college advocates raise awareness of the financial needs of students across the state. According to the Huffington Post, this movement, which took place on April 17, served two purposes: to raise awareness of the critical needs of today's college students and to raise funding that will support those needy students through additional scholarships.

Money that was raised through Hands across California will go directly to support the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment. The Bernard Osher Foundation has pledged a 50 percent match to all funds collected. This organization is well known for its support of the California

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