Episode 32: What’s at Stake in D.C. for California’s Community Colleges?

On this episode of Leading Community Colleges in California, host Larry Galizio is joined by Jon Fansmith, senior vice president for government relations and national engagement at the American Council on Education (ACE). A nationally recognized voice in the media and a trusted expert among policymakers, he offers critical insights into the shifting federal landscape affecting colleges and universities. In this conversation, Jon shares his national vantage point on pressing federal issues that California’s community college leaders should be watching closely, including the changing public narrative around the value of postsecondary education, implications for funding and access, and how leaders can shape federal policy. With California’s community colleges serving over 2.2 million students—one-fifth of the nation’s total—Jon also reflects on how this unique scale and diversity can be leveraged on the national stage.

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Jon Fansmith, along with colleagues Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer, from the American Council on Education, host dotEDU, a podcast on the policy aspects of issues that impact campuses, students, and higher education leaders. They're joined by guest experts to explore topics such as student aid policy, the Department of Education regulatory agenda, diversity in admissions, the value of higher education, and much more.