A conversation with Education Under Secretary Kvaal

Community College Daily

Matthew Dembicki

May 3, 2022

NEW YORK — Attendees of the 2022 AACC Annual had an opportunity Monday to hear from the U.S. Education Department’s top higher education official about some of the Biden administration’s top-of-mind issues–and AACC members had a chance to let the under secretary know what’s important to them.

James Kvaal opened the panel conversation with officials from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) by giving kudos to two-year colleges and noting their critical importance in economic mobility, equitable opportunity, growth in living standards and more.

“A strong community college might be the most important institution our country has for that goal,” he said.

The White House wants to ensure any policies are written with community colleges in mind, Kvaal said.

In turn, AACC leaders said they were appreciative to have an administration that understands and values community colleges and includes them in all discussions about postsecondary education.

“We have been so fortunate this past couple of years to have an administration that truly values community colleges. Everything that we’ve got from them, in terms of drafts of bills, to bills that have been introduced, have really had a community college-centric flavor to them,” said AACC President and CEO Walter Bumphus.

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