Director of Enrollment Attends Community College Policy Fellows Program

 

East Central Community College Executive Director for Enrollment Management Dr. Marie Roberts recently completed the Community College Policy Fellows Program (CPFP), a 10-month professional development program sponsored by the Mississippi Community College Board. 

 

“It was an honor to be a part of this experience. I appreciate Dr. Gregory providing me the opportunity to participate and to learn more about advocating at the state and national level as well as how to collaborate with colleagues across Mississippi for the benefit of advocating for our individual institutions,” said Roberts. 

 

Directed by Tyson Elbert of Advocacy Build, LLC, the curriculum focused on four national program pillars: policy, leadership, networking, and advocacy.  

 

Roberts was one of 19 representatives from Mississippi. The group met throughout the academic year to discuss state and national policies on education and to determine successful ways to advocate on behalf of college students. The fellowship culminated with a trip to Washington, D.C., for the Washington Legislative Summit and meeting with education policymakers.  

 

During the program, the group focused on two policy issues and requests: requesting Pell Grant funds for short-term workforce training programs and new funding opportunities in agriculture and ag-related programs specific to Mississippi community colleges through the Farm Bill.  

 

“The focus of the cohort I was a part of had to do with requesting the opportunity to apply for agricultural and ag-related program funding initiatives - a new component as part of the historically bipartisan Farm Bill. We were able to speak directly with Congressional members as we advocated to allocate funding for grants for community colleges to allow us a chance to grow these programs without competing with our sister land-grant colleges and universities. Instead, we can partner to provide more opportunities in ag ECCC while expanding our high-quality instruction with even more areas of student interest." 

 

With the emphasis East Central Community College is putting on growing student opportunities for success and workforce development, advocating for additional funding for these initiatives through the CPFP program comes at the perfect time.  

 

While in Washington, the fellows met with every member of the state’s congressional delegations, along with the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture. They also met with the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges.