BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama Community College System board of trustees met Wednesday at Enterprise State Community College, where members adopted a 2026 legislative agenda, approved three new associate degree programs and heard updates on enrollment and major workforce initiatives.
ACCS’ involvement in the Eli Lilly development
Calhoun Community College President Jimmy Hodges outlined the system’s role in the $6 billion Eli Lilly pharmaceutical manufacturing plant announced Tuesday in Huntsville.
Hodges said Calhoun will conduct pre-employment workforce training for the company through the Alabama Industrial Development and Training agency.
“I’ve been told this is the first time in the history of workforce training that a community college would be offering the pre-employment training for AIDT and they would pay us to do that training,” Hodges said. “And so it was a great day.”
He added that Calhoun is preparing to build a clean room simulator to support the plant’s pharmaceutical manufacturing needs.
Many positions will require clean-room operations skills, and Hodges said Eli Lilly leaders reacted strongly when told the college planned to offer that training.
“They really raised their eyebrows when we told them we were going to provide that,” he said.
Enrollment, dual enrollment numbers continue rising
Enrollment growth continued this fall, with 97,374 students enrolled as of Dec. 8, including dual enrollees. That’s 6,800 more students than in the spring, and 20 of the system’s 24 colleges posted gains.
Dual enrollment participation continues to climb across Alabama’s two-year colleges. Vice Chancellor for Student Success Neil Scott said more than 40,000 high school students took at least one dual enrollment course in the 2024-25 school year – a 230% increase since 2015.
Students from more than 500 high schools now participate, and about 42% come from rural communities. Scott said dual enrollment remains one of the system’s strongest tools for increasing degree completion and building Alabama’s workforce pipeline.
Last year, Alabama’s two-year colleges awarded 1,566 credentials to 1,218 dual enrollment students, including 143 who earned an associate degree before finishing high school.
“In short, dual enrollment is the tide that lifts all boats,” Scott said. “It strengthens access for students and families. It supports K 12 schools, improves university enrollment and completion and accelerates Alabama’s workforce and economic development goals.”
Legislative agenda focused on rising costs, needs
The system’s 2026 legislative agenda focuses on securing additional funding for operations and maintenance, prison education and rising educator benefit costs. ACCS leaders also want to expand dual enrollment scholarships and support short-term credentials tied to high-demand industries.
The agenda includes requests for additional allocations through the Advancement and Technology Fund and any supplemental appropriations, which would depend on legislative approval.
$10 increase in enhancement fee could raise $20 million next year
The board voted to double the current enhancement fee from $10 to $20 per credit hour beginning in fall 2026. According to the request, the fee supports systemwide services that help colleges strengthen student outcomes.
Colleges will receive $15 of the fee, with $5 going to ACCS. The increase is expected to generate an additional $20 million in 2026–27.
The board also authorized Reid State Community College to implement a $50-per-semester Wellness Fee starting this spring to support the recently opened College Wellness Center. The fee is expected to raise roughly $90,000 annually.
New associate degrees launched
Three colleges received approval to launch new associate degree programs beginning fall 2026:
- Calhoun Community College: Associate in Applied Science in Video Game Production
- Drake State Community College: Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- Jefferson State Community College: Associate in Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
The next meeting will be on Jan. 14, 2026, in the ACCS building in Montgomery.
The full meeting is available on the ACCS YouTube channel and can be seen below.
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