October 2, 2001
Regents approve enhanced collaboration in districts
Action taken Friday by the Board of Regents will enhance collaboration between colleges in two KCTCS districts - Southeast and Kentucky River.
"The goal for KCTCS established in the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 was to create a comprehensive community and technical college system," said Dr. Michael B. McCall, KCTCS president. "I applaud these colleges' efforts toward consolidating, which supports achieving that goal."
Meeting at Mayo Technical College, the regents approved two separate but similar resolutions endorsing consolidations of colleges in the Southeast and Kentucky River Community and Technical College districts. The resolutions also granted the districts the authority to pursue single accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
To this point, technical colleges in KCTCS have been accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), while the community colleges are accredited by SACS. The accreditation process ensures quality and affirms to students that their credits will transfer from KCTCS colleges to other postsecondary education institutions.
If approval is secured as expected from SACS, the consolidations will take effect in January 2002 in the Southeast Community and Technical College District, and July 2002 in the Kentucky River Community and Technical College District.
The Southeast Community and Technical College District includes Southeast Community College, which has campuses in Whitesburg and Cumberland, and Cumberland Valley Technical College, which has campuses in Pineville and Harlan. The colleges share a campus in Middlesboro.
The Kentucky River Community and Technical College District comprises Hazard Technical College and Hazard Community College. The latter institution operates branch campuses in Breathitt County, Knott County and Leslie County.
Three of the 16 KCTCS community and technical college districts now have approval to pursue single accreditation and consolidation - Madisonville Community College and Madisonville Technical College received such approval in June.
Other community and technical college districts are at various points in the process. The regents heard updates on how KCTCS colleges are working together in the Owensboro Community and Technical College District (Owensboro Community College and Owensboro Technical College); Jefferson Community College and Technical College District (Jefferson Community College and Jefferson Technical College); and Hopkinsville Community and Technical College District (Hopkinsville Community College and the Technology Center).
"The hard work put into these efforts will result in a seamless system that holds greater advantages for students, communities, and faculty and staff," said Cynthia L. Read, chair of the KCTCS Board of Regents.
In other action, the regents approved:
- A revised mission/purpose statement for Maysville Community College.
- A revised mission statement for Southeast Community College.
- A new academic program - the associate in applied science degree in office systems technology - that will be offered by Maysville Community College.
- Certificate programs that will be offered by the following colleges: Hazard Technical College (four programs); Hopkinsville Community College (five programs); Jefferson Technical College (three); Laurel Technical College (four); Mayo Technical College (five); Maysville Community College (32); Northern Kentucky Technical College (eight); Owensboro Community College (one); Owensboro Technical College (one); Paducah Community College (two); and West Kentucky Technical College (one).
In less than four years, the KCTCS regents have approved 365 programs that result in certificates, diplomas or associate degrees. "These new academic and technical programs respond to the workforce needs of Kentucky employers," McCall said.
Dr. McCall announces strategy to enhance programs
In Northern Kentucky
In a news conference last Wednesday attended by Governor Paul Patton, Dr. McCall outlined a strategy for significantly expanding the programs and services that KCTCS will offer in the growing region of Northern Kentucky.
Central to the plan is the recent acquisition of prime real estate - adjacent to Interstate 75/71 south of Florence - on which KCTCS will build the main campus of a comprehensive community and technical college.
KCTCS currently serves the region through Northern Kentucky Technical College (NKTC), which has campuses in Park Hills, Edgewood and Highland Heights. KCTCS' strategy over the next 10-15 years includes an increased presence in the urban river communities, and new course offerings in suburban and rural counties where populations are booming.
The initial phase of the project will be funded by a $10 million appropriation approved by the 2000 Kentucky General Assembly. KCTCS will seek an additional $20.7 million during the 2002 session of the legislature.
News from the Colleges
West Kentucky District
An annual gala scholarship auction and celebrity golf tournament at Paducah has raised more than $97,000. The money will be used to provide scholarships for deserving students who want to attend Paducah Community College.
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Kay Travis has been named executive director of Paducah Junior College, Inc. PJC, Inc., is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support Paducah Community College. Travis, of Calvert City, served as the communiversity director for Paducah CC from 1997 to 1999 before being named associate director of PJC, Inc. in 2000.
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Jefferson District
Several KCTCS faculty and staff were chosen for leadership roles during the 70th annual meeting of the Kentucky Communication Association held in September at Kentucky Dam Village State Park. They included Tom Sabetta, Jefferson Community College, association president; Bob Glenn, Owensboro Community College, treasurer; and John Limeberry, Jefferson Community College Southwest, at large representative, West Region.
Somerset Region
NorthStar Technology, a provider of personal communication services, recently held a job fair at Somerset Community College. More than 200 people submitted job applications to NorthStar during the event. The company is currently building a new facility near Somerset.
Big Sandy DistrictMayo Technical College will have a booth at the Paintsville Apple Fest, scheduled for next weekend. Information about the college will be available at the booth and Mayo also is providing parents with fingerprints of their children, an important record in the event of an emergency. ---------- Mayo Technical College faculty members Rita Patrick (see photo) and Dean Robinson (see photo) were recently promoted to full professor. Patrick is an instructor in the related academics department and has been teaching at Mayo since 1995. Robinson has worked in Kentucky's technical education system since 1981. He teaches robotics and automated manufacturing at the Mayo Hager Hill campus. |
 Rita Patrick  Dean Robinson |
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---------- A new Mayo TC associate in applied science fire/rescue science technology degree program will be offered at fire departments throughout the region as well as the Mayo campus. Bob Barringer (see photo), area eleven fire rescue training coordinator, said that non-degree training also will be available. |
 Bob Barringer |
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Mayo TC is participating in a program that awards employers tax credit if they provide employees five hours per week to study for the GED examination. Mayo is partnering in this effort with Kentucky's Department for Adult Education and Literacy.
Bluegrass Region
The Central Kentucky Technical College adult education program was recently awarded $38,000 dollars by the Department of Adult Education and Literacy. Central received the award for exceeding adult education enrollment, employment and GED goals.
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Kristin Tiedeman, CKTC adult education coordinator, has announced that GED courses are now available online.
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Central Kentucky TC is playing host every Monday and Friday to Fayette County eighth graders. The students, from local middle schools, come to the campus to prepare their individual graduation plans. They undergo an interest inventory and learning styles assessment before an interactive tour of the college's programs. More than 2,400 eighth graders will visit the campus by the time this pilot project is completed on October 12.
High school students will visit CKTC during the annual Rotary Club "Access to Careers Week" November 12-16.
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The "Girls Can Too" program is a partnership between the Bluegrass Girls Scouts Council and CKTC. The very successful program, in its second year, introduces girls to non-traditional jobs and courses of study. Laura Lynch, carpenter instructor, began the program to show girls the opportunities available in non-traditional jobs. Volunteer instructors provide hands-on experiences and interactive demonstrations. Police detective Lynn Borders, mounted patrol officer Lisa Rakes and fire captain Brenda Travis are the instructors for the October session.
Henderson District
Henderson Community College is home to the first public sculpture to be displayed in Henderson. The dedication and unveiling took place September 30. The work is titled "The Optimist" by Kentucky born sculptor Don Gummer. The 7-foot-tall high-cast stainless steel sculpture will serve as the entrance piece to the fine arts center.
The project was planned by Ohio Valley Art League and partially funded
by College Foundation, Inc.
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