New ideas are taking flight this September as the League for Innovation in the Community College releases the latest issues of Leadership Abstracts, Learning Abstracts, and Innovation Showcase, featuring timely perspectives on the evolving role of community colleges, emerging workforce fields, and student-centered pathways.

In Leadership Abstracts, “The Next Model for Higher Education May Be the Community College,” by Jeff Nesheim, explores how artificial intelligence and shifting student demographics are accelerating a structural transformation in higher education. The article argues that AI is reshaping professional work itself—not merely adding another layer of technology—as tools increasingly generate code, debug functions, draft contracts, summarize case materials, build models, and explain complex patterns in plain language. Against this backdrop, the piece positions community colleges as agile, workforce-aligned institutions uniquely equipped to meet the needs of today’s learners and prepare them for rapidly changing careers.

The September issue of Learning Abstracts features “Pioneering the Skies of Tomorrow Through Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems,” by Scott Marshall. This article explores how colleges are preparing students and communities for rapidly expanding opportunities in advanced air mobility, drone technology, and unmanned aerial systems. It underscores the importance of innovative curriculum, industry partnerships, and hands-on learning in fields that are redefining transportation, logistics, public safety, and regional economic development.

This month’s Innovation Showcase presents “Duck Hunt to Degree Pathways: Making Student Purpose Visible,” by Natalie Gebicke. The article describes an inventive approach to helping students connect their goals, interests, and academic choices through clearer degree pathways. By making student purpose more visible, the featured work emphasizes how colleges can improve advising, strengthen engagement, and help learners see the connection between their educational journey and future aspirations.

Together, the September 2026 issues reflect the League’s ongoing commitment to sharing practical innovation, forward-looking leadership, and transformative learning across the community college field.

These periodicals and other League publications are now available here.