At the close of 2017, Dr. Royce Ann Collins will complete four years of service as the Editor of the Journal of Continuing Higher Education (JCHE).

Although Royce Ann will continue to be actively involved in ACHE, she is stepping down as Editor of the Journal in order to spend more time writing and publishing research articles herself.  When asked how she would spend her "free time," she responded "Free Time - right!  I get my weekends back."  

"I plan to stay connected to ACHE, because I believe in the organization.  ACHE truly helped me as a young professional in the late 1990s and early 2000's, so I am very proud of giving back to it and the membership by serving as the Editor of JCHE for four years."

She will remain Associate Professor of Adult Learning as well as Leadership and Graduate Program Director for the department at Kansas State University - Olathe.  In addition to teaching graduate courses and mentoring doctoral students, she is looking forward to using the case study research she has collected on adults in higher education and developing it for publication.

During her four years as Editor, Royce Ann shared that she is most proud of being able to publish some issues that were very timely for practitioners.  "It was important to me for every article provide a theory to practice section.  I think many researchers have lost sight of the purpose of research which is to help the practitioner."

"I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve ACHE. It is a community that provided me ample opportunities to grow as a professional.... Remember: JCHE is for you, the professional. Let us know what you are doing. We look forward to publishing your story" (Collins, 2017).

ACHE Past President Clare Roby said, "As editor of JCHE, Royce Ann has worked tirelessly to promote scholarly research that expands the body of knowledge in the field of continuing higher education. She has encouraged ACHE members to submit articles for the Journal through conference sessions and webinars and has been an incredibly valuable resource for the Association. We are very grateful for her dedication and hard work."

ACHE President Bill Boozang added, "Royce Ann’s expertise and leadership have resulted in a continuation of the highest quality standards for the JCHE, providing a forum for continuing education scholarship. Royce Ann is highly valued by the organization for her professionalism, collaborative nature, and vision for the Journal."

Please join us in wishing a very fond farewell to Editor Royce Ann Collins as she continues her journey in continuing higher education!

Royce Ann Collins (2017) From the Editor, The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 65:3, 149-150, DOI: 10.1080/07377363.2017.1373559)

Dear ACHE Colleagues,

What an incredible experience at the 2017 annual conference in Portland, Oregon, and a job well done by Past-President Clare Roby and her planning committee! What a wonderful opportunity for professional development, fellowship and fun!  Thanks to all of you who contributed to the conference. As an organization with volunteer leadership, board and committees, the time, commitment and dedication of our membership shines through in our conferences and professional development opportunities.

As the fall semester and 2017 conclude, we have the opportunity to take stock of our current work and look ahead toward the opportunities and obstacles that we face locally, and higher education faces nationally.

As such, you are likely well aware of current federal tax reform package (H.R. 1 (115)), a version of which the House has already passed and Senate will vote on during the coming days.  As this package currently stands, it has an adverse effect on the post-secondary populations that many of us support. Under the current plan, graduate assistantships (tuition waivers) will be taxed as regular income, making graduate education an unaffordable prospect for many of our students. Interest on student loans will no longer be tax deductible under the proposed legislation. 

Access and affordability in post-secondary education are at risk in the current legislation. I encourage you to call and email your representatives to articulate the potential impact of these changes.  It is a turbulent time rife with reform that impacts higher education, with the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act looming as well. As an organization, ACHE must provide the voice for those who seek mobility through affordable education options.

I look forward to the year ahead, especially seeing you at the regional meetings in the coming months. Feel free to reach out with questions, concerns and comments anytime.

Warmest Regards,

Bill Boozang
ACHE President, 2018

As ACHE President, it is my pleasure to welcome
three new Directors at Large to the Board and
one new member of the Executive Committee. 
It is also my pleasure to introduce the Executive Committee
officers who are in new positions.

Eloy Chavez, Amy Jordan, and Marc Wilson join the Directors at Large.

• Eloy Chavez, Dean, College of Extended Learning, Northeastern State University
• Tina Marie Coolidge, Program Manager II, School of Education, Drexel University
• Amy Jordan, Director of Special Projects and Full-time Faculty, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Loyola University Chicago
• Tim McElroy, Dean, Northeastern State University campus at Muskogee, Oklahoma, Northeastern State University
• Marthann Schulte, Academic Strategist (Efficacy and Research Specialist), Pearson Online Learning Services
• James Shamlee, Program Coordinator, Military Services & GoArmy
• Patti Spaniola, Director of Continuing Education, University of West Florida
• Marc Wilson, Executive Director of Counseling, Southern New Hampshire University

Amy Johnson, formerly a Director at Large, joins the Executive Committee as Vice President, while Bill Boozang, Dorothy Williams, and Clare Roby obtain new offices.

• President: Bill Boozang, Boston College Certificate Programs & Corporate Outreach
• President Elect: Dorothy Williams, Professor/Consultant
• Vice President: Amy Johnson, Director, Center for Teaching Excellence, East Tennessee State University
• Immediate Past President: Clare Roby, Associate Dean of Regional and Continuing Education, California State University - Chico
• Executive Vice President: Belinda Biscoe, Vice President for University Outreach, University of Oklahoma

Please join me and all of us on the ACHE Board in welcoming our colleagues!

William Boozang, Ed.D.
Boston College Certificate Programs & Corporate Outreach
ACHE President