ECC President to Chair National Advocacy Group for Rural Colleges

East Central College President Dr. Jon Bauer was elected Chair of the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA) Board of Directors.

RCCA is a national organization with members in 35 states, led by a board of community college presidents and other leaders in the field. It is the only organization devoted to rural-serving community colleges. Additionally, RCCA lobbies in state legislatures and Washington, D.C., as a voice for institutions often neglected in higher education.

Bauer was elected by the full RCCA Board during the 2024 RCCA annual conference, held Sept. 18-20 at SUNY-Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, New York.

“I am honored to be named Chair of the RCCA Board of Directors. Rural community colleges are essential to the success and growth of our regions, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members to champion the unique needs and opportunities in rural education,” he said. “Together, we can continue to expand access, promote innovation, and strengthen the impact of community colleges across the country.”

The Board Chair serves a two-year term. Seth Carter, president of Colby Community College in Kansas, is the outgoing Chair.

The RCCA assists member institutions that serve the 89.3 million people who live in rural America. Bauer has served on the national board since September 2020.

The Alliance promotes a more economically, culturally, and civically vibrant rural America through advocacy, convening, and leveraging resources. The RCCA also serves as a “clearinghouse for innovative practice, policy, and research.”

The RCCA strives for increased state support and federal impact aid for community and tribal colleges and helps member institutions find new funding sources. ECC will serve as the host for next year’s conference, taking place Sept. 17-19, 2025.