Dear Trustees and Presidents,

New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and the Center for Policy and Practice at the Association of Community College Trustees are undertaking a comprehensive survey of community college leaders to better understand their work in regional economic development. This project is generously supported by JPMorgan Chase.

These activities include, but are not limited to:
  • Supporting efforts to recruit and retain employers in a region
  • Aligning workforce offerings to regional economic development needs
  • Contributing to state economic development strategy/goals
  • Participating in local economic planning/policymaking or conducting economic scans
  • Collaborating on efforts to support the region in navigating the impacts of AI and emerging technologies
  • Providing entrepreneurship training, small-business incubation, and assistance
  • Engaging in federal or state industrial policy investments (e.g., CHIPS Act funding, EDA Tech Hubs, NSF Regional Innovation Engines, ManufacturingUSA Institute, Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, national laboratories, etc.)
  • Championing global engagement, including fostering engagement with international partners around global skills and competencies

This project is undertaken as part of a new, expanded partnership between our organizations under the auspices of the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy, a strategic initiative launched by New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and the U.S. National Science Foundation, focused on capacity-building of the community college sector around emerging technologies and the advanced economy.

OUR GOALS

This New America-ACCT survey is both a research study and a needs assessment. It aims to accomplish the following:
  1. Capture case studies of trustee leadership, advocacy, and/or engagement in regional economic development efforts or institutional capacity-building efforts to better support regional economic development objectives;
  2. Understand the leadership development needs of trustees around their college’s engagement with regional economic development activities or institutional capacity building for economic development; and
  3. Set the stage for action. The insights of this survey will inform a final publication to be jointly released by our organizations and unveiled at an upcoming ACCT Leadership Congress and a public event at New America. It will also inform the programming build-out for ACCT members and provide policymakers, economic development leaders, and the media with timely insights.
INCENTIVES TO RESPOND
  • An opportunity to be potentially spotlighted in the final publication, blogs, and articles published by both organizations
  • Opportunity to be short-listed for speaking opportunities relating to the project, including for New America events and the ACCT Leadership Congress
  • Selected to speak with reporters and media covering community colleges and economic development
  • Selected to speak with federal lawmakers and agencies focused on community colleges and economic development
  • Shape the professional development offerings of ACCT and New America as it relates to community college engagement and/or capacity-building with respect to regional economic development
TAKE THE SURVEY

Please complete the survey by Friday, June 12. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. As part of this research, we may reach out to some respondents to request a brief follow-up interview to learn more about their experiences. Participation in any follow-up conversation is entirely optional.

Responses to the survey will only be reported and analyzed at the aggregate level. Your name and institution will not be associated with your response unless we reach out to you about publishing a case study regarding your institution's work on economic development.

We appreciate your time and insights. If you have any questions, please contact us futureofwork@newamerica.org.

Question Title

* There are two versions of this survey. To begin, are you a trustee or president?

 
 20% of survey complete.

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