When Alamo (Community) Colleges announced a decision to eliminate major designations from associate degrees last summer, AC students fought back. Simon Sanchez, from the Student Leadership Coalition asserted, "we are not victims." With the support of the Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) and Metro Alliance, the organization reached out to hundreds of students, leveraging 595 signatures for a petition against the policy.

Read more

PCIC executive team member Ernesto Lujan and Literacy Connects Executive Director Betty Staufer called on the public to support local economic development through investments in institutions like the Pima Community Colleges and job training program JobPath. They praised the efforts of PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert under whom they see "renewed emphasis on adult education and literacy...and a continued commitment to immigrant youth (i.e. in-state tuition for those who have work permits under DACA).

Stauffer and Lujan urged the public to pay attention to the contested race for PCC Board members, and to attend the upcoming PCIC accountability assembly with PCC Board candidates September 28 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Tucson.

Read more

Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith leaders hosted a summit in which university presidents responded to questions about the impact of state budget cuts to economic growth in Louisiana and about investments universities need to provide quality affordable education. Leaders highlighted the importance of affordable high education as a gateway to the middle-class for lower income residents. They additionally drew attention to studies documenting that for every $1 invested in higher ed, the state enjoys $8 in additional economic activity.

The summit was held in collaboration with the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Grambling State University, Louisiana Delta Community College and Louisiana Tech University. In photo, Grambling President Frank Pogue and ULM President Nick Bruno lead a discussion.

Read more

When Albuquerque Interfaith leaders learned that a lottery-funded scholarship program was in danger of going broke, they rallied to save the fund -- reaching out to parents, concerned congregation members and State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino. Parent leaders testified about the importance of the scholarship for students in state colleges; state legislators noted that the late notification prevented them from voting to channel money away from tax cuts for businesses and into long-term investments like college.

Parents Rally Around Lottery Scholarship, Albuquerque Journal

Read more