Writer: JUDY JENKINS, Henderson Gleaner

The long-awaited Tri-county Technology Center for the Henderson Community College campus takes a major step toward realization this month.

HCC President Patrick Lake told members of the Henderson Lions Club Tuesday that bids for the facility's construction will be opened Aug. 22.

If all goes well, work is expected to begin shortly thereafter with the building - anticipated to be about 53,000 square feet - completed in the spring of 2008.

The three-story brick structure will be situated on the eastern portion of the campus, adjacent to the Academic and Technical building. The two facilities will, in fact, be joined by a connecting, glass-enclosed walkway.

The 2005 state General Assembly approved $13 million for the center that will: Provide technical training for students and area work force; offer "soft skills" such as team building and supervisory management; house a "Success Center" that includes the campus One-Stop Career Connections program, adult basic education, and other facets; a pair of two-tiered lecture halls for large associate degree programs, and community areas for meetings.

Lake said though HCC is the smallest community college in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, "We've become a major player" and a leader in programs such as online learning.

He gave the Lions members a crash course in HCC, which began as the University of Kentucky Northwest Center in 1960 with only one building on campus. Today there are six buildings, including the Henderson Fine Arts Center, and the student population has grown 26 percent in only the last three academic years.

Fall registrations last year totaled 2,017, with 783 male students and 1,234 female students.

Enrollment included 641 full-time-equivalent students and 1,376 part-time students. There are 43 full-time faculty members and 64 part-time; a staff of 57 and six in administration.

Lake, who became the school's president in 1986, said the operating budget for this academic year is $13,109,600, with more than $3 million of that amount being restricted funds that are limited to specific uses.

Lake said HCC's expenditures have increased 33 percent since 1998, while state appropriations have declined 28 percent in that period and there have been four budget cuts totaling $447,900.

He said it has been necessary for the hilltop school to aggressively pursue grants, and it has enjoyed some success in that area. HCC also is conducting a "Fulfilling the Promise" fundraising campaign that has a $3.5 million goal - $3.3 million already raised in pledges, grant matches and in-kind giving.

In its recent history HCC has launched a number of new programs such as centralized student support services and a welcome center for visitors.

The emphasis, Lake said, is on student learning and the faculty and staff are dedicated to making learning as enriching an experience as possible. HCC also strives to serve business and industry by helping employers maintain a workforce with cutting edge skills.

Lake said he's observed that, "Our students today are very typical of what you find across the country. They're not real interested in credentials."

Their primary concern, he said, is employability and that's why HCC's associate degree, diploma and certificate programs are ever-growing.