The Community College Landscape: Perspectives on What 2026 Holds

We were recently asked to reflect on what excites us about the community college landscape in 2026. As we shake off our holiday hangover and return to the office in January, it is the perfect time to think about what is coming next. We have seen a lot about adapting to the changing landscape and that higher ed is at a pivotal time, but it has felt that way since at least 2020. So what makes this year different?

We have to admit that there is something about the new year that brings a re-energizing spark to the work that we do in higher education (especially because if you’re reading this, we assume you have not won the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing). In thinking about the year ahead, we first reflected on what we love about working at community colleges in general. At the top of that list were:

Seeing students succeed. Working with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Making a positive long-term impact on families. Strengthening the local workforce. Contributing to the community where we live and work.

From there, we thought about the shifts taking place in higher education, particularly at the community college level. There are changing expectations of community colleges, especially how they integrate with industry and prepare students for life after graduation. The pace of change is accelerating, and the future of community college is exciting. Here are some things that we find relevant in the Maine Community College System, where we work, given current events:

Workforce Pell. Apprenticeships and internships. Free college initiatives. Advances in AI and technology. Focus on student mental health. Re-evaluation of what a safe campus means.

These changes are not simply high-arching themes, they are already beginning to shape the day-to-day experiences of students and employees. There is a lot to be excited about so it was hard to narrow a focus to just one area. Drawing from our different areas of work on campus and our unique perspectives, here is a look at what each of us is most excited for in the upcoming year:

Building Relationships with Industry for Workforce Alignment

Tracey’s perspective: I recently spoke with my former officemate who has taught students from high school, to workforce, to college for 50 years. When I asked him what he thought has changed the most since he first started teaching, he told me, “students are not as prepared as they used to be,” and then blamed phones. He then started to discuss that curriculum is designed by people with degrees but no practical experience as another problem he sees more today compared to when he first started teaching.

Wasn’t I excited to tell him I had a meeting with a local business that afternoon to talk about how we could collaborate on one of our trade programs! While I am not excited about “less prepared students” in 2026 (that’s a topic for another article), I am very excited about the prospect of strengthening relationships with industry to create and expand programs that meet current and future workforce needs. Apprenticeships and internships seem to be getting more positive attention, especially as we begin to place more value on the trades.

Even more exciting, businesses seem to be recognizing the role community colleges can play in preparing students for careers. Our local industry partners are also beginning to offer financial support for the creation of these programs. High start-up costs can sometimes be prohibitive for a small rural college, but at the same time, we need to find ways to serve our community as well as prepare students with the skills and tools needed for jobs in our area. My new year’s resolution for 2026 is to create more public/private relationships to support industry and residents for a more prosperous future.

Serving The Whole Student (and Employee)

Jennifer’s perspective: The student experience has always been at the core of my passion working in higher education, and over the last few years, our student body has changed drastically. More traditional-aged students have been choosing community colleges within our state, and we are seeing a healthy balance between traditional and adult learners. It got me thinking about what the 2026 student might look like and how we might be innovative in meeting their needs.

Mental health continues to be at the forefront, and the need to create wrap-around services for students remains critical. Being able to properly support students means looking at the whole student and developing a holistic plan on how we address those needs. There is an opportunity for us to take a look at our current mental health services, evaluate how we are addressing the basic needs of our students, and reexamine our current services and determine how we can collaborate to ensure that our practices are serving the whole student.

As someone who has also just shifted into human resources, and whose core passion is still rooted in student success, I’m equally as excited about finding new ways to support our people as they work to give students the most positive experience they can. With all the transitions, changes, and upheaval, it is important for us to take care of those around us; those who share the passion about helping students be successful. I’m looking forward to more candid conversations about work-life balance, well-being, and personal and professional development. It’s important to remember that the work that we are doing can change the trajectory of not only our students but their families as well. My new year’s resolution for 2026 is to pursue the addition of our system to Maine’s Best Places to Work list.

Cheers to 2026

The new year will continue to bring exciting changes and opportunities for community colleges. We are fortunate to work in a profession that allows us to make such a significant impact on people’s lives, and one of the ways that we can do that is by using innovative approaches to meet the changes we experience. We encourage you to think about your own work and what excites you about the community college landscape this new year. More specifically, think about how you can incorporate innovation and collaboration into your own work as you look to build stronger partnerships, support the whole student, and improve your coworkers’ experiences.

Cheers to 2026 and all the amazing things this year holds for us!