“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.” ~ Mary Pickford
As July begins to slip away and August waits just around the corner, it is a reminder that we are getting closer to the beginning of the fall semester! Soon, the full body of KCKCC’s energetic and passionate faculty will return, ready to welcome and provide high-quality education and specialized training to the thousands of eager to learn students who will fill our hallways, classrooms and labs.
To prepare for August 19, the first day of classes for KCKCC’s 2020 Academic Year, staff, faculty and administration have been working hard to recruit, admit, advise and enroll students not only for the College’s regular offerings and locations, but also for college-level, GED and ESL offerings for the very first time at Wyandotte High School and the Amazon Fulfillment Center. As educational needs of our community change and evolve, I’m very thankful to the work everyone has done to begin these new educational services to the community and new opportunities for enrollment growth for KCKCC!
The KCKCC Buildings and Grounds crew has also been especially busy, working on multiple major projects that include the complete remodel of the Student Success Center which will include new comprehensive services to students from college placement to career placement, and the remodel of six classrooms turning them into four high-technology, high-engagement classes designed by the KCKCC Learning Spaces committee. This crew has also been busy with other projects such as the remodel of the childcare building so it can be reopened this fall and the remodel and modifications to the watering hole by the administration entrance so it can be prepared for a complete makeover designed by the KCKCC Ambient Learning task force.
So much excellent work has been done by so many, it is impossible to mention everyone, but I thank and appreciate each and every person!
Recent Activities:
With such a strong economy, it can be expected that traditional enrollments will continue to decline or hopefully at least stay flat. Nationally, community college enrollments continue to decline between -2% and -4% annually, adding up to significant losses over several years. Being aware of this, and the fact that KCKCC’s operational costs, like other colleges, continue to climb, it is critical we continue to look for new enrollment opportunities, such as Amazon, Wyandotte High School and a KCKCC Downtown location.
It is very important we continue to seek out and take advantage of new opportunities and efficiencies as we continue to invest in and enhance existing offerings and services. During the last two weeks I participated in several meetings, most of which presented new opportunities for KCKCC. However, a couple introduced topics that have the potential to present significant challenges to the College. Being an advocate for transparency and believing that you, the college body, should be aware of both positive and what may be not so positive factors that may impact KCKCC, as together we can make more informed decisions, below is an overview of the meetings and conversations.
Second Chance PELL: In an effort to reduce recidivism of the hundreds of thousands of incarcerated individuals in America scheduled to be released each year, in June 2016 the Department of Education announced a program where 67 selected colleges and universities in 13 states would be allowed to award PELL to eligible students currently incarcerated in state and federal prisons. (Research indicates that 43% of inmates who participate in correctional education during incarceration are less likely to return to prison within three years.)
Earlier this year, it was announced the project would be expanded and allow additional select institutions and states to be added to this project. Towards that effort, I participated in an all-day strategy session in Topeka, for KCKCC to become a part of a consortium application representing Kansas colleges, Department of Corrections, KBOR, State Workforce and other agencies to prepare and submit a proposal to the federal government to be selected as an additional state and member institution in the expansion of this program. If selected, being a part of the “Kansas Consortium for Correctional Higher Education” will allow KCKCC to expand offerings into state and federal prisons. Having three in our service region in Leavenworth County, KCKCC would have multiple opportunities for course and program expansion.
Possible New Private College in KCK: Now for the not so positive information. The day following the Second Chance PELL meeting, a member of our Board of Trustees and I, and the President of Johnson County Community College were invited to a meeting to meet with one of our local County Commissioners who also holds a seat on the Kansas Board of Regents, and a representative from a large local business that serves both Kansas and Missouri. The business representative stated that higher education was not able to provide enough workers for their business and that they also provide in-house training for their employees. As we discussed various ways KCKCC and JCCC could work with the business to meet their workforce training and educational needs, we were informed by the business representative and Commissioner that the business plans to open their own college offering technical education to meet their specific needs at this time. However, we were also informed that they are also looking at opportunities to expand into teaching additional technical areas and advertising these training opportunities to other KC Metro businesses. It was very unfortunate and disappointing to hear that the County Commissioner and KBOR Regent supported this effort and plans to assist the business with the necessary KBOR paperwork for the business to become a recognized college.
A few takeaways. This meeting echoes some of business and industry’s frustrations across the country with higher education, stating that Higher Ed is not flexible and adaptable enough to meet their needs ‘at the speed of business’. The actions being taken by this business also loudly emphasizes the fact that we, and no college, can continue to do business the way it has been done for the last 10-20 years. If curriculums and services have not been updated in several years, they must be. We also have to ask ourselves, are we, as a college, structured and do we operate to meet the needs of our students and community? As I meet with business and industry representatives, and philanthropic organizations across our region, I let them know of the great programs and services KCKCC offers and that we are also making changes in areas to ensure we meet their needs. And, I know we have the right people in place to do this!
National and Kansas Education Related Items: If you do not track national educational activities, you may not have heard that the Alaska Governor recently vetoed 182 Bills, one of which would have put a stop to his proposed $136 million cut to the University of Alaska system. The $136 million cut is exemplified as the University’s total state appropriation is approximately $310 million, making this a 41% cut in the University’s budget from the state. Additionally, the Governor’s total cuts to the system are planned to be more than $200 million, putting the University in an immediate financial crisis. While financial adjustments may be necessary, immediate cuts such as this not only put the University but thousands of Alaska’s students in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, this type of action is not isolated to Alaska, states across the country are cutting funding to public colleges and universities. In Kansas, the community colleges are still trying to receive funding at the 2008 level. A few years back, Arizona cut per student funding by more than 50%, and eliminated all state funding to the Maricopa and Pima community college systems. Illinois state funding for higher education has been cut in half since fiscal year 2002. And, between 2008-2014, cuts to higher education in Louisiana were 41%, Alabama 39%, Pennsylvania 37%, South Carolina 36% and the list goes on.
In Kansas, last week, conversations surfaced related to the current funding structure for technical education. A proposal was introduced related to program requirements that would affect funding for programs eligible for “tiered-funding”. Generally speaking, with this proposal, in order to receive tiered-funding, technical programs would have to prepare individuals for occupations that are both “High-Wage” and “High-Demand”. Additionally, high-wage programs would be defined as occupations that have a (state average) starting annual wage of 250% above the poverty line. This makes the required starting annual wage approximately $31,225. Programs that do not meet both high-wage and high-demand definitions would no longer be eligible for tiered-funding. While estimates are still being calculated, this proposal would have a significant negative financial impact on KCKCC as well as other Kansas Community Colleges, and could force colleges to raise student tuition, local mil levies or both to offset the loss.
While these conversations are very new, it is important that individuals participating in these conversations understand the full impact and ramifications of such a change. Additionally, utilizing state average wages does not take into consideration the higher wages paid in the metro areas.
In an effort to help head off this conversation before it builds momentum, I am serving on a KACCT task force to help provide the larger picture to individuals considering this change. For example, if not providing funding for Early Childhood Education Programs (i.e. a very “high-demand” occupation) who is going to provide child care services to those working in “high-wage” occupations? Focus meetings begin Monday to develop and implement a plan to respond to this proposal.
This action taken at the state level emphasizes how quickly things can change, and how important it is that KCKCC builds and maintains a financial reserve to help cushion the blow should actions like this be suddenly implemented upon us. As we rely on only a few funding sources, these type of actions can be very financially painful. As we work to grow our business relationships with business and industry and develop additional philanthropic relationships, we will further diversify our revenue sources and actions such as this, if implemented, will be cushioned by other nontraditional revenue sources.
Public-private partnerships (P3) takes significant time and effort to form and cultivate, often years. The College made significant progress towards these efforts last year and working with the KCKCC Foundation these efforts will continue to be expanded this year. As these relationships mature and more program specifics begin to be discussed, Tami, Mary Spangler and I will be reaching out to individuals from across the College to meet with partners and help tell the KCKCC story!
With the many national championships, titles and awards, and countless student success stories you all worked so hard to receive last year, I can’t wait to see what is in store for this year!
“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” ~ Steve Jobs
More information and updates will be continued to be shared at Convocation and through other avenues such as our monthly “Afternoon Chats”.
#WeCreateOurFuture!! #HornsUp #KCKCCProud