New National Initiative Designed to Ramp Up Graduation Rates

Summer is the time that many homeowners kick their renovation projects in high gear, but homeowners aren't the only ones sprucing up their environment this year. Community colleges around the country are finding ways to make the campus experience more attractive to students and staff. Despite tight budgets for many schools, some are getting creative in finding ways to spruce up their campus grounds without breaking the bank. We'll take a look at how three community colleges are providing their students with a prettier place to head back to class.

Taking Trash to a Whole New Level

Laredo Community College art students have found a new way to bring their artistic endeavors to life. According to a recent report in the Laredo Sun, many of the art students at this school have spent the last semester experimenting with a brand new medium – large steel drums that serve as outdoor trash cans throughout the campus. The painted drums are a part of a Laredo campus beautification project known as "Yes We Can!"

For this part of the project, art students painted 19 well-known works of art onto the cans, including masterpieces by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Diego Rivera. Creating a design for the paintings from a two-dimensional canvas to a cylinder was more than a little challenging. Students began by reproducing pictures from an art history book and transferring them onto a 3-foot cylinder using a redrawing technique. From there, students designed their images

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

Smoke-free policies at community colleges have evolved significantly over the past decade. What began as designated smoking areas has, in many cases, transitioned into fully tobacco-free campuses. In 2026, community colleges will not only ban traditional cigarettes but also address vaping, e-cigarettes, and emerging nicotine products.

This shift reflects broader public health priorities, changing student attitudes, and updated federal and state guidance. As community colleges continue to serve diverse student populations, their approach to campus health policies offers insight into larger trends in higher education.

The Shift Toward Tobacco-Free Campuses

Community colleges were early adopters of smoke-free policies, but the definition of “smoke-free” has expanded.

Today, many institutions enforce tobacco-free campus policies, which prohibit:

• Cigarettes
• Cigars and smokeless tobacco
• E-cigarettes and vaping devices
• Heated tobacco products

According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, thousands of U.S. colleges and universities now maintain 100 percent smoke-free or tobacco-free policies.

This shift aligns with updated public health recommendations and reflects growing awareness of secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure risks.

Why Community Colleges Are Leading the Movement

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to implement and scale these policies.

Diverse Student Populations

Community colleges serve students across age groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and life stages. Many institutions emphasize accessible, healthy environments that support both traditional and adult learners.

Public Health Alignment

Most community colleges operate within public systems, making them more responsive to state and federal health initiatives. Policies often align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Campus-Wide Impact

Unlike residential universities, community colleges

The current economic slowdown, high unemployment rates and rising costs of four-year universities have sent many college students scurrying to the ivied halls of their neighborhood community colleges to begin the path of higher education. Community colleges across the country have seen record enrollment figures over recent years, as more students are turning to these institutions right out of high school and well into adulthood. However, community colleges are far from the utopia many make them out to be – in fact, these schools have their own sets of issues and hurdles they must overcome to help their students be as successful as possible. We'll take a look at a recent study that outlines eight of the biggest issues community colleges face today.

About the Study

Western Governors University, an online college that provides more than 50 degree programs across the country, recently conducted a study with The SOURCE on Community College Issues, Trends and Strategies, a new online resource for schools. The study went to a broad range of community college leaders nationwide to get their perceptions on the major hurdles in higher education at the community college level. The report found that there is a diverse outlook among community colleges as to which issues are the most prevalent in the industry. Some of the issues discussed during the study included college readiness, student services, and workforce development, according to a press release on the WGU website.

Although there was much

Looking for a fun way for your kids to spend their summer vacation? How about a week or two at college? Many community colleges are bringing camps and workshops to their campuses across the country, allowing future college students of all ages the chance to dabble in technology, theatre and a host of sports. The offerings vary in terms of length of time, cost and curriculum, allowing students from a wide range of interests to pursue a new hobby or hone their skills at a current discipline. This article will highlight some of the community college programs available this summer across the country.

Bringing the Arts and Physical Education to New Mexico Kids

Clovis Community College has plenty to offer kids on break this summer at their CCC Kid's College. The school provides a range of classes in their summer outreach program, including science, arts and crafts and physical education. Students can create their own volcano while learning about the different rock that is created during an eruption. They can build bird houses to decorate their backyards. They can develop skills in tennis, bowling and volleyball. CCC offers some of the best – and most creative – courses for kids in New Mexico beginning at age five.

Kid's College Director Judith Spillane told cnjonline.com, "We wanted to offer both educational and physical educational programs. All of the classes have education and skills components, including our athletic programs."

Registration is currently underway at Clovis Community