Pennsylvania Commission For Community Colleges

THE PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF PENNSYLVANIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS AND FACILITATES THE VISION AND VALUES OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITH ONE VOICE THROUGHOUT -LEADING PROACTIVELY IN MATTERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH; -ADVOCATING PROACTIVELY FOR THE NEEDS AND POSITIONS OF THE COLLEGES; -COMMUNICATING QUALITY ACHIEVEMENTS AND DATA WITH POLICYMAKERS, THE MEDIA AND OTHER KEY AUDIENCES; -PROMOTING EFFECTIVE TRANSFER & ARTICULATION WITH OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION SECTORS; - PARTNERING AND LEADING STATEWIDE WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT EFFORTS; -CREATING AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDIENCES AND PARTNERS; -ADVANCING STUDENT SUCCESS, ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY; -ENHANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS; AND -FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG THE COLLEGES

THE ORGANIZATION HAS CONTINUED TO ACHIEVE THE EXEMPT PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS ORGANIZED. THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE YEAR WERE PRIMARILY DEALING WITH THE FOLLOWING MEMBER SERVICE ACTIVITIES: 1)CONDUCTED REASEARCH THAT WILL ULTIMATELY PROVIDE FACTUAL, STATEWIDE, TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES' NEEDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 2)COMPILED SURVEYS AND OTHER DATA TOOLS WHICH ARE USED TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE FACTS AND INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES. 3)COORDINATED WITH PHI THETA KAPPA FOR AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS. 4)COORDINATED EVENTS AND MEETINGS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS AND SUBGROUPS, SUCH AS THE DATA COMMITTEE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS, CHIEF ADMISSIONS OFFICERS, CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICERS, CHIEF FINANCIAL AID OFFICERS, AND CHIEF STUDENT AFFIAIRS OFFICERS. 5)COORDINATED AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCE CALLS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS, AND THEIR VARIOUS SUBCOMMITTEES. 6)RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS. 7)RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF INFORMATION, SUCH AS ARTICULATION, ENROLLMENT, FUNDING, TUITION PROGRAMS FOR AGING ADULTS, ETC. FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES SUCH AS LEGISLATORS, LEGISLATIVE STAFF, HEADS OF VARIOUS COMMONWEALTH AGENCIES, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SISTER AGENCIES IN OTHER STATES, AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. 8)PUBLISHED WEEKLY NEWLETTER FOR MEMBER PRESIDENTS AND TRUSTEES. 9)REPRESENTED THE MEMBER COLLEGES ON VARIOUS STATEWIDE COMMITTEES. 10)RESPRESENTED THE MEMBER COLLEGES AT VARIOUS NATIONAL EVENTS AND CONFERENCES. 11)ASSISTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CREATE COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESENCE IN COUNTIES WITHOUT SUCH SERVICES OR WITH MINIMAL SERVICES. 12)COORDINATED AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR MEETINGS TO CONSIDER LEGISTAIVE AGENDA AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES. 13)MAINTAINED A COMMISSION WEB SITE WITH LINKS TO MEMBER COLLEGES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCIES. 14)COORDINATED WITH THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ALL- PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC TEAM. 15)ATTENDED MEETINGS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION, STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND PHEAA. 16)RESPONDED TO LEGISTIVE REQUESTS TO IDENTIFY PRESIDENTS, TRUSTEES, AND COLLEGE STAFF TO TESTIFY BEFORE VARIOUS COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, ETC.