Strategic Partnerships

The Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education has built strategic partnerships with national organizations such as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and World Education Services (WES):

American Association of Community Colleges and CCCIE
The strong support of AACC (www.aacc.nche.edu) and its president Dr. George Boggs has been instrumental to the progress of the Consortium. AACC has provided opportunities to raise the visibility of CCCIE’s mission and work through published articles, interviews, and presentations at AACC-sponsored events. With the assistance of AACC Senior Staff Associate Kevin Christian, CCCIE is reaching a broad audience of community college leaders and professionals through the Community College Journal, College Community Times, AACC Letter, and multiple presentations to AACC’s constituents.
Migration Policy Institute/CCCIE Dream Act Study
MPI (www.migrationpolicy.org) and CCCIE are collaborating on a study of undocumented youth who might benefit from DREAM Act legislation or some comprehensive immigration reform. Blue Ribbon Panel members of CCCIE are providing critical feedback to aid MIP in capturing the range of characteristics (age, income, level of prior education, Level of English Proficiency status, etc.) that may be related to the success of immigrant youth seeking to legalize under the bill using its “education pathway” (i.e. successful completion of two years of an approved course of college study). CCCIE members are also considering the community college implications for financial aid, ESL, student support services, and other administrative practices.
WES/CCCIE Credentialing Seminars
WES (www.wes.org) and CCCIE are jointly sponsoring on-campus workshops to help community college foreign students apply their foreign credentials in obtaining U.S. jobs. There is currently a void in licensing and credentialing information that could enable skilled immigrants gain recognition for their foreign educational and employment experience and apply their credentials in securing new careers in the U.S. The first WES/CCCIE credentialing forum was held on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College and was a huge success, with a turnout of over 350 students. More joint WES/CCCIE events are planned for spring 2010.