ACCT

February 21, 2008 - Washington, DC. - Almost twelve hundred community college leaders from around the country came to Washington, DC, February 10-13 to participate in the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) Annual National Legislative Summit (NLS) at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

NLS attendees were provided with timely information on the current political landscape and given information on major initiatives that will affect their colleges. The three-day event included a number of speakers: Roy Romer, Chairman of the Strong American Schools, ED in 08; Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers; Timothy Bishop, U.S. Representative, 1st District, New York; and Benjamin Nelson, U.S. Senator, Nebraska and Co-Chair of the Senate Community College Caucus and G. William Hoagland, VP Public Policy, CIGNA.

The attendees were also treated to a special general session featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. In addition to giving remarks about the pivotal role community colleges play, Spellings’ engaged the audience in a lengthy question and answer segment.

Charlie Cook, Publisher and Political Analyst for NBC News, and Stuart Rothenberg, Publisher and Political Analyst for CBS News, participated in a lively luncheon session and shared their insights on the upcoming 2008 presidential election race.

As part of the annual event, community college trustees and presidents visited with their Senators and Representatives regarding key community college priorities which include funding for the Pell Grant program and the Perkins Career and Technical Education programs and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

“The NLS serves as an important time for trustees to renew relationships with their elected officials and share what is important to their communities and colleges,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “Advocacy is the responsibility of trustees and the message they carry throughout the year is vital to helping sustain economic and workforce development.”

During the Capital Banquet, ACCT and AACC presented the 2008 National Education Service Award to George Miller, U.S. Representative,7th District, California. Miller, a community college graduate, has been a strong champion for community colleges including his stewardship this past year as Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

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About ACCT
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States, Canada, and England.

About AACC
The American Association of Community Colleges represents more than 1,100 associate degree-granting institutions and some 10 million students. Formed in 1920, AACC is a national voice for community colleges, which marked their 100th year of service to the nation in 2001. AACC is leading the celebration of the colleges as they provide learning opportunities to their students and communities and the nation.