President McCall

As founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), Dr. Michael B. McCall oversees a system of 16 individually accredited comprehensive community colleges with 68 campuses serving over 100,000 students. KCTCS has an annual operating budget of approximately $713 million, and since 1998 has touched the lives of more than 500,000 citizens.

Under the leadership of President McCall, KCTCS is committed to serving as the place where higher education begins for the majority of Kentuckians. Since his appointment in December 1998, KCTCS has achieved many successes including:

• Merging the 29 community and technical colleges into 16 individually accredited comprehensive community colleges;
  
• Rapidly expanding the number of academic and technical programs that KCTCS colleges offer to students by ratifying and/or approving more than 500 new programs, diploma options and certificates;
  
• Offering 600 credit program options that result in certificates, diplomas or associate degrees;
  
• Becoming the largest provider of postsecondary education and workforce training in the Commonwealth of Kentucky;
  
• Meeting the needs of students to pursue higher education in an online, anywhere, anyplace, and anytime environment through a virtual learning initiative entitled KCTCS Online that is completely learner-centered and allows adults to pursue higher education 24/7, 365 days a year; and
  
• Overseeing specialized programs and services that include the North American Racing Academy (first college-affiliated horse racing academy in the United States), Kentucky Coal Academy, Kentucky Fire Commission, and the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

Dr. McCall has served for over 40 years in community and technical colleges. He has been recognized for his advanced collaborative partnerships, economic development, innovative use of technology, and the utilization of team-oriented management. His accomplishments include:

• On April 17, 2009 he was the recipient of Phi Theta Kappa’s prestigious State Community College Director Award of Distinction.
• In August of 2006, Dr. McCall received the 2005 National Council for Continuing Education and Training’s National Leadership Award – Inside the Field.
• The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development honored Dr. McCall with their 2005 International Leadership Award.
• Dr. McCall received the prestigious honor from Kentucky Monthly Magazine as the 2004 Kentuckian of the Year.

On June 30, 2006 Dr. McCall completed his tenure as Board Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). This marked the first time a System-level president was elected chair of the AACC board. Under his chairmanship a community college caucus was established.

In addition, Dr. McCall serves on a number of boards and commissions including:

• American Association of Community Colleges, Board, Chair (2006);
• National Science Foundation Blue Ribbon Panel;
• IDC (Interactive Digital Center) Consortium Honorary Advisory Board;
• Business Higher Education Forum;
• United Way of the Bluegrass;
• Southern Growth Policies Board;
• Kentucky Farm Bureau Board, Education Advisory Committee;
• Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Blue Ribbon Commission;
• The editorial board of the Community College Journal of Research and Practice;
• The advisory board of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, National; and
• A member of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges.

Prior to his appointment as the founding president of KCTCS, Dr. McCall served as President of South Carolina’s comprehensive technical college system and provided leadership for South Carolina’s economic development training programs.

Earlier in his career, Dr. McCall served as president of Florence Darlington Technical College in Florence, SC, and as president of Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, VA. Dr. McCall was also a dean and a faculty member at community and technical colleges in Virginia.

Dr. McCall received his bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington; his master’s in physics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA; and his doctorate in educational administration from VPI.

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