In Washington, DC, it is a time of political transition and many unknowns for higher education policymaking. The following outlines some of the major national issues facing community colleges and their students as the 115th Congress convenes and President-elect Donald Trump takes office. (American Association of Community Colleges)

New York's governor wants to make public higher education free for most students, setting off new debate on the concept. (Inside Higher Ed)

Analysis finds that a 10 percent reduction in state appropriations is associated with a 12-17 percent increase in international undergraduate enrollment at public research universities. (Inside Higher Ed)

By Suzette Senn As we march into 2017 with another conference just around the corner, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the 2016 annual conference. Most of all, I would like to thank the countless attendees and business partners who worked to make this event a success. Without each and every one of you, the Community College Business Officers organization would cease to exist.

By Hans Weichhart There are so many things to look forward to this year: the 2017 CCBO Annual Conference and Leadership Academy coming up in September, the continued dedication to providing educational and professional support to community college business officers, and the naming of CCBO's new managing director, Austin Bingler!

By Jerry Smith A perfect storm is bearing down on higher education, and it’s threatening the future of our community colleges. Disruptive forces, like declining funding and enrollment and increasing competition and regulatory requirements, are stretching community colleges’ scare resources dangerously thin. Across the nation, institutions are realizing that their current business model is not sustainable. But how can colleges that are caught in the cross-winds of change survive these turbulent times and thrive in the future?

CCBO offers CPE credits to individuals who attend the Leadership Academy, educational sessions, and general sessions at the Annual International Conference. Certified Public Accountants can earn up to 21 CPE credits from attending this year's conference. All you need to do is submit a record of participation to info@ccbo.org.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 | 3:00 pm ET Presented By: Joe Burkhart, Director, Higher Education, Oracle Community colleges are under tremendous pressure to operate efficiently, embrace fiscal stewardship and unprecedented levels, and align scarce resources to the mission of the institution. Couple these challenges with the adoption of new technologies in teaching and learning and the integral role of technology in digital innovation and you’ll find it’s clear that change is inevitable. Community colleges that strategically embrace digital transformation will differentiate themselves and thrive. During this session, we’ll explore the challenges facing education leaders, the strategies institutions can use to differentiate and strengthen their long-term viability, and the critical role cloud technology plays in helping institutions achieve their goals.

Thursday, February 16th, 2017 | 2:00 pm ET Is your staff prepared to seamlessly serve a customer with limited English skills? How about a person utilizing a motorized scooter? Perhaps you have a customer wearing a head or face covering for religious reasons or customers who are not able to physically present themselves in your office. These and other scenarios will be addressed as we explore the role of an ID office in a university's commitment to inclusive excellence and identity development. Join this webinar on developing strategies to consistently serve all constituents in a diverse card office environment. A set of tools will be shared to address the unique needs of our campus community and partners.

Submit a proposal by February 24th for the 2017 CCBO Annual International Conference and present an educational session this September in New Orleans! You work hard everyday to bring innovation and improvements to your students, profession, and institution. A community college business officer’s work is unique; this is your opportunity to share your experiences and knowledge with other business officers facing similar challenges.

If you would like to access any presentations from educational sessions we will have presentations available until registration for the 2017 conference opens.

The Academy provides an opportunity for current and aspiring community college business officers to enhance their knowledge on the various intricacies of the chief business officer leadership role. The Academy’s goal is to provide participants with the knowledge of best practices of leadership within a community college. The knowledge and learning shared in this program is the ONLY educational source geared directly FOR community college business officers, by community college business officers targeted FOR community colleges. The cost is reasonable, the return outstanding. Your future and the future of your institution makes this a critically important decision with a truly positive return on investment that will pay over your lifetime.

The Outstanding Business Officer and the Outstanding Chief Business Officer Awards honor those individuals with distinguished service to their institution and community. Award winners are nominated and chosen by their peers. The deadline to submit is June 23, 2017.

As a volunteer-driven association, CCBO relies heavily on the expertise and time of those who serve on standing committees. Much of the work is accomplished via monthly conference calls and results in the planning and execution of successful annual conferences, creation of professional development programs, strong membership recruitment campaigns, development of future budgets, selection of the Association’s award winners, and much more.