National Community College Leader to Step Down in 2010

Decade of leadership marked by growth in community college stature, funding

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- George R. Boggs, president of
the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) for a decade and an
ardent advocate for community colleges for more than 40 years, has announced
his retirement from the association effective December 31, 2010. Boggs made
the announcement in a letter to the AACC Board of Directors October 21.

In announcing his decision to step down, Boggs cited both personal and
professional reasons. "My wife and I are looking forward to returning to
California, where most of my family lives and where we plan to build a new
home," Boggs said. "I feel honored to have served community colleges during a
period of their most dynamic growth and achievement. Our colleges have never
had greater visibility or respect from policy leaders, the business community
and the public at large. I move into a new phase of my life knowing that we
have very able colleagues at the highest levels who share my passion for these
colleges and their students. I know they will carry on with the commitment we
have shared, and I look forward to new opportunities I may have to support
these important institutions."

Boggs began his tenure at AACC in 2001, the centennial year of the founding of
community colleges. He succeeded David R. Pierce, becoming the eighth CEO of
the organization during its 90-year history. Over the following decade, he
helped lead an unprecedented period of achievement and recognition for this
largest sector of higher education.

"George Boggs was the right leader at the right time as community colleges
really came into their own," said Mary Spilde, current chair of the AACC Board
of Directors and president of Oregon's Lane Community College. "He has an
incredible work ethic, but he also practices creative leadership that empowers
staff to seek innovative ways to serve and advocate for community colleges. He
will leave a dynamic legacy, and we are grateful for his lifelong commitment
to community colleges."

Politically, community colleges have received greater visibility and more
substantive support than at any time in their history. The colleges were
lauded by the Bush Administration as critical to preparing the nation's
workforce for in-demand jobs of the future, and a Community Based Job Training
Grant program was developed to provide $250 million per year to the colleges.

In Congress, both the Senate and the House established Community Colleges
Caucuses, which now number 34 and 201 members respectively.

The Obama Administration has also provided significant support for community
colleges, including key appointments of individuals with strong community
college backgrounds at both the Department of Education and the Department of
Labor. Dr. Jill Biden, a long-time community college instructor and the wife
of the Vice President, was given a special assignment to promote community
colleges nationally and internationally. The President in July proposed the
American Graduation Initiative, a 10-year, $12 billion program to expand
capacity and innovation in community colleges that would allow them to
graduate an additional 5 million students. That legislation -- historic in
terms of size and scope -- passed the House Sept. 17 and is now under
consideration in the Senate.

Under Boggs' leadership, corporate and foundation support for AACC and
community colleges also reached record levels. Among an array of new programs
launched or expanded during his tenure are:
-- Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count -- AACC was a founding
partner for this multi-year initiative funded largely by Lumina
Foundation for Education to increase success among community college
students, particularly low-income and students of color. The effort
now
involves 102 colleges in 22 states, with a total philanthropic
investment of $125 million.
-- The Voluntary Framework of Accountability initiative, a two-year $1
million program established in 2009 and funded by Lumina Foundation
and
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop common performance
measurements to evaluate institutional effectiveness.
-- An emphasis on diversity in community colleges via public statements
and
the creation of a national database focused on minority male student
success.
-- Leadership development initiatives, funded largely by the Kellogg
Foundation, created annual leadership institutes operated by AACC and
developed leadership competencies now being used in leadership
development programs across the nation.
-- A Nursing and Allied Health Initiative to strengthen the ability of
community colleges to meet a critical and growing need for nurses and
other health care professionals was begun in 2002. Community colleges
currently educate nearly 50 percent of new registered nurses and the
majority of allied health professionals.
-- Expansion of the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, a
program founded in 1994 and supported by the National Science
Foundation, aims to improve or grow programs that prepare skilled
technicians to work in high-tech fields. Proposed funding for 2010 is
$64 million.
-- Supported Service Learning in cooperation with Learn and Service
America
to infuse "service learning" practices (combining academic study with
community engagement) into college programs. The program was funded in
2009 for its eighth consecutive year.
-- The Plus 50 Initiative, a 3-year, $3.2 million effort funded by The
Atlantic Philanthropies is designed to create or expand programs at
community colleges to serve adult learners 50 and older through
training
or retraining, lifelong learning and civic engagement.
-- The Walmart Workforce and Economic Opportunity Initiative, a two-year,
$2.3 million effort to improve economic prosperity, especially in
under-resourced and rural communities.

-- The AACC Corporate Council, an advisory group of business leaders
begun
in 2005 that meets regularly with the association's board executive
committee and since its inception has contributed close to $2 million
to
support AACC's work and student scholarships.

In addition to his work to promote community colleges nationally, Boggs has
contributed to greater understanding of community colleges -- a uniquely
American educational model -- internationally. An expanded program of
international student recruitment was introduced via student fairs in Asia,
Europe and Latin America, along with an annual publication, Web site and
outreach to embassies. In addition, he frequently lectured abroad and served
in an advisory capacity to the Department of National Education for The
Republic of South Africa, and the Higher Colleges of Technology for the United
Arab Emirates. He currently serves as chair of the board of directors for the
World Federation of Associations of Colleges and Polytechnics.

Boggs is a graduate of the Community College Leadership Program at The
University of Texas at Austin, earning his Ph.D. in Educational Administration
there in 1984. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from The Ohio
State University and his master's degree in chemistry from the University of
California, Santa Barbara. A prolific writer, he is the author of Handbook on
CEO-Board Relations andResponsibilities, numerous chapters in books and dozens
of articles, many focused on the "learning college" concept, which Boggs
helped popularize, and effective leadership and governance.

Boggs returns to an area of California where he served for more than 15 years
(1985-2000) as president/superintendent of Palomar Community College District,
serving San Diego County and enrolling more than 26,000 students. Prior to
that, he was associate dean of instruction (1981-1985), division chair
(1972-81) and instructor of chemistry at Butte College in Oroville, Calif.

A national search for the new AACC president will begin early in 2010, with
the executive committee of the AACC board coordinating the effort on behalf of
the 32-member board. "We intend to conduct a search that is national,
inclusive, and thorough," Spilde said.

Comments from other higher education leaders:

"George Boggs has been a tireless proponent of America's community colleges
and the students they serve and has long fought for greater recognition of
these institutions that are so critical to our nation's economic future," said
American Council on Education President Molly Corbett Broad. "While I am sure
he will take no credit, George's efforts were critical to President Obama's
introduction of the American Graduation Initiative, which will provide
tremendous new resources to community colleges over the next 10 years. George
has led the American Association of Community Colleges with great distinction
-- he is a superb colleague and I look forward to working with him for the
remainder of his tenure as president."
Dr. Molly Corbett Broad
President
American Council on Education

"Dr. Boggs leaves a powerfully positive legacy, as he announces his retirement
from the American Association of Community Colleges. The nation's community
colleges are respected, a part of every politician's speech, and assuming more
and more importance and prominence in the restoration of our nation's economy.
Dr. Boggs and his AACC team have increased the visibility and the credibility
of our colleges. All of us are indebted to him for a decade of quality
leadership and service."
Dr. John E. Roueche
Professor and Director
Community College Leadership Program
The University of Texas at Austin

"George is an extraordinary leader, whose commitment has helped foster access,
equity, and an elevated appreciation and respect for community colleges
throughout the nation and abroad."
Noah Brown
President and CEO
Association of Community College Trustees

"Dr. Boggs has provided all associated with community colleges sure and steady
leadership during a span of time that has seen our institutions rise to an
unprecedented level of awareness and respect -- not only in the United States
but around the world."
Rod A. Risley
Executive Director
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Two-Year College

The American Association of Community Colleges is a national organization
representing close to 1,200 community, junior and technical colleges and their
more than 12 million students. Community colleges serve almost half of all
U.S. undergraduates and are the largest and fastest growing sector of higher
education.

SOURCE American Association of Community Colleges

Norma Kent of the American Association of Community Colleges, +1-202-728-0200,
ext. 209, nkent@aacc.nche.edu