April 19, 2001

KCTCS, Georgetown Announce
British Study Opportunities

Through a partnership with Georgetown College, students from KCTCS colleges will be eligible to study at one of the world's most prestigious institutions of higher education - Regent's Park College of the University of Oxford in England.

The partnership -- called The British Experience in Learning and Living (BELL) - will allow KCTCS students who transfer to Georgetown College and meet eligibility requirements to attend Regent's Park, which specializes in liberal arts education such as Theology, Philosophy, History and the Classics. Credits earned at Regent's Park will apply toward Georgetown degree programs.

Also, faculty and staff from the 28 colleges in KCTCS will be able to travel to Regent's Park and other British institutions for professional development opportunities that will enhance their skills. Additionally, KCTCS is developing a partnership with Doncaster College - a British polytechnic institution - to create study opportunities for students, faculty and staff who specialize in technical fields.

"This kind of public/private partnership to enhance education and improve Kentuckians' standard of living and quality of life is precisely the reason that we changed postsecondary education for the better four years ago," said Gov. Paul E. Patton. Patton proposed the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, which created KCTCS and envisioned the seamless pathways to knowledge embodied in The British Experience.

Patton helped announce The British Experience April 17 along with Georgetown College President William H. Crouch Jr., KCTCS President Michael B. McCall, and Gordon K. Davies, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). Also on hand were principals Paul S. Fiddes of Regent's Park and Terry Ashurst of Doncaster. The announcement came during a news conference at Georgetown College.

The British Experience is a direct result of Georgetown's partnership with Regent's Park. Georgetown has sent 12 students and several faculty members to study at the British college, which is part of the University of Oxford's network of 39 colleges.

"Georgetown College is committed to developing scholars and leaders for the Kentucky of tomorrow," President Crouch said. "As Governor Patton has indicated, this can only be achieved on behalf of all Kentuckians if public institutions like KCTCS and private colleges like Georgetown College work together for the common good. With this partnership, everyone wins - - Georgetown College, KCTCS -- but, more importantly, the Commonwealth of Kentucky."

The KCTCS partnership with Georgetown and Regent's Park allows students, faculty and staff to explore and apply the traditions and culture of English education to Kentucky's community and technical colleges.

"The British Experience opens new avenues to knowledge and broadens the ties of KCTCS to the global economy," said KCTCS President McCall. "All of KCTCS will benefit from the experiences of those who participate in the program.

"The British Experience also enhances two strengths of KCTCS," McCall added. "Our baccalaureate transfer program will grow in stature through our new collaboration with two fine liberal arts institutions - Georgetown College and Regent's Park; and our technical education program will benefit from the experiences of faculty, staff and students who take advantage of the opportunities available at Doncaster College."

McCall has appointed Len O'Hara, president of Paducah Community College, as the KCTCS liaison to The British Experience. As part of those responsibilities, O'Hara will travel to England in July to develop the KCTCS agreement with Doncaster College.

O'Hara participated in the announcement, as did Natasha Allen, a Georgetown College student who transferred from the Jefferson Community College campus in Carrollton. Allen, a resident of Owen County, is among those scheduled to travel to Regent's Park in July in the first group of KCTCS students to benefit from The British Experience.

Patton described The British Experience as a partnership that potentially benefits all Kentuckians.
"Students from our colleges will get the chance to study at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Faculty and staff who qualify will be exposed to new ways to educate students," Patton said. "And this seamless partnership creates an excellent return on the investment that all Kentucky citizens make in higher education."

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Southeast CC Student Elected to Board of Regents

Community college students across the state have elected Jeffery P. Butler of Southeast Community College as their representative to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents.

Butler, of Middlesboro, will serve a one-year term during the 2001-02 academic year.

Butler graduated from Middlesboro High School. He was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, the Student Council and Beta Club, and played on the football team.

At Southeast, Butler is seeking an associate degree with emphasis on pre-physical therapy.

In his campaign to serve on the Board of Regents, Butler emphasized such issues as improving library resources and on-campus day care; enhancing campus security; increasing academic programs; expanding student activities; and promoting consolidation of functions, services and programs in community and technical colleges.

The 14-member Board of Regents includes eight regents appointed by the governor and six elected to represent students, faculty and staff. Butler will succeed Alesha Ann Brittain, also of Southeast CC.

The Board of Regents sets policy for Kentucky's system of two-year community and technical colleges.

"We welcome Mr. Butler to the KCTCS Board of Regents," said Martha C. Johnson, Board chair. "The entire board appreciates the unique perspective that students bring to the table - after all, the system is here to serve them."

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Cabinet Preparing for Board Meeting

The meeting of the President's Cabinet on April 18 focused on preparations for the next Board of Regents meeting. The Regents will meet April 26-27 at Somerset Community College.

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News from the Colleges

Owensboro TC Administrator Helping Design Online Course

Gay Burden, interim director of secondary programs at Owensboro Technical College, is assisting in the development of an online course called "Living, Learning, and Earning: Practical Economics for High School Students." Sponsored by the Kentucky Council on Economic Education, the committee on which Burden is serving began its work during spring break week and will complete the project this summer.

The online economics class will be a part of the Kentucky Virtual High School offerings and will primarily target 10th grade students who need a economics course to meet graduation requirements; however, it will probably also attract 12th grade students needing an elective course, and students enrolled in alternative schools. High schools across the state will decide whether or not to accept the course as the required economics credit.

Other committee members include two Kentucky high school teachers, two faculty members from the Center for Economic Education at Morehead State University, and two employees of the Kentucky Council on Economic Education.

Northern KY TC Offering Fiber Optic Training/Certification

Northern Kentucky Technical College is now offering nationally recognized fiber optic training certification from the Fiber Optic Association.

"This expands our students' base of knowledge into the voice and data wiring systems, and makes them more marketable in their field," said Tom Collins, NKTC electrical technology program coordinator.

News From Somerset CC

Dr. Jo Marshall, president of Somerset Community College, was recently honored at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Denver, where she was named International Honorary Member, the highest award bestowed by the society.
She has served Phi Theta Kappa since 1969 when she was a chapter advisor. She is currently the regional coordinator representative on the organization's board of directors.

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Appalachian Heritage Month was celebrated at Somerset CC's McCreary Center on April 19. The program featured writing, rhythm, roots and rocks. Several visiting writers with roots in the region read from their works, and musicians from McCreary and Pulaski counties performed. Rocks and fossils were identified and discussed by Dennis Fries, part-time Somerset CC geology instructor. Other Somerset CC faculty participating in the event included English professor Wanda Fries, who performed the play Desert Flower, which was written by Betty Peterson, also an English professor.

Southeast CC Hosts Math/Science Competition

Faculty and staff of Southeast Community College's Division of Physical Sciences and Related Technologies recently hosted the college's 21st annual math/science competition for area high school students. Students competed through tests that were given in nine subject areas, and individual awards were given to the top three finishers in each category. Students toured the campus following the competition.

News From Hopkinsville CC

The 2001 edition of The Round Table, Hopkinsville Community College's literary magazine, will be presented on Friday, April 20. This is the 35th year that The Round Table has been published.

The magazine includes poetry, fiction and artwork submitted by: writers and artists from the college's faculty and student body; area school children; and the college's service area. Following readings from the publication, the winners of the 2001 Round Table Literary Awards will be announced.

Faculty advisor for The Round Table is Hopkinsville Community College creative writing instructor Brett Ralph.

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On April 18 Hopkinsville Community College joined more than 2,000 other organizations across the United States and Canada in serving as a local host for the Hospice Foundation of America's Eighth Annual Living with Grief Teleconference.
The program, Caregiving and Loss; Family Needs, Professional Responses, examined ways that professionals can better understand and respond to the needs of family caregivers.

The teleconference was produced by Hospice Foundation of America, a non-profit organization that helps healthcare professionals and families they serve address issues relating to terminal illness. The annual event reaches an audience estimated at 150,000 people.

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Hopkinsville Community College's agriculture technology club recently hosted its third annual agriculture technology awards banquet. The club presented five student awards and named local businessman, Wayne Hunt, the outstanding agricultural technology program advisory board member.

Owensboro CC Counselor Featured in News Article

A student counselor at Owensboro Community College was the subject of a recent feature article in the local daily newspaper. Grant Talbott III worked as a teacher, coach and counselor for the Owensboro Public Schools for 30 years. He joined Owensboro CC in 1997after retiring from the school system.

Award Presented at Elizabethtown CC

Displaying the plaque that was presented to Elizabethtown Community College's Business and Industry Technical Assistance Center (BITAC) for operating a Benchmark Practices for Local Economies program are (see photo) from left: Beth Nickell, coordinator of the ECC Center for Quality Training; Dr. Thelma White, ECC president; and Lindon Coffee, BITAC coordinator. The award was presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in recognition of a business start-up simulation program for 7th and 8th graders.

Ashland Blood Drive Nets 81 Pints

A recent blood drive called "Battle of the Blood" at Ashland Community College and Ashland Technical College netted 81 pints. Ashland TC won the friendly competition by donating 48 pints, and Ashland CC donated 33.

News from West Kentucky TC

West Kentucky Technical College recently became one of the U.S. Army's Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP) colleges. ConAP is a joint effort of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and more than 1,500 participating colleges. The program admits new soldiers to college concurrent with their enlistment. Army and Army Reserve recruiters help new soldiers select a ConAP college and make plans to enroll when their enlistment or active-duty training is completed. West Kentucky is the first Kentucky technical college selected to participate in the program.

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The welding technology program will soon be offered almost "around the clock" at Western Kentucky Technical College. Beginning with the fall semester, the college will provide welding classes from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and all day on Friday.

Dr. Angie Bruns, WKTC dean of academic affairs, said the program was expanded to provide a more flexible schedule for those making career changes or needing to upgrade their skills. The welding faculty also will help students on swing shifts continue their training on a part-time or fulltime basis.

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A team from WKTC recently won first place in the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA) 2001 District 8 Skills Contest. The team competed against students from Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and other Kentucky schools.

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