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 HCC's Community News                         

         June 22, 2016   

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KCTCS Board of Regents Approves Tuition/Plan
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents approved the 2016-22 KCTCS Strategic Plan and a $9 per student credit hour tuition increase for in-state students during its June 6 meeting at Maysville Community and Technical College. The tuition rate follows the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's (CPE) tuition setting guidelines.

The board approved the 2016-22 KCTCS strategic plan that builds upon the mandates outlined for KCTCS in the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 and aligns with the CPE Strategic Agenda 2015-20. The planning process began in 2015 by collecting input from stakeholders throughout the state through a statewide vision survey and listening sessions at all KCTCS colleges and the KCTCS system office. More than 4,000 community members, business leaders, students and employees participated in activities to envision the future of KCTCS. Additionally, statewide Innovation Roundtables funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were conducted to further refine the strategic plan vision, values and goals. These roundtable sessions were held in each of Kentucky's nine economic regions with key community and economic development stakeholders.

The 2016-22 KCTCS Strategic Plan goals are:
  • Raise the level of educational attainment in the Commonwealth by positioning KCTCS as the accessible, affordable and relevant postsecondary education choice for Kentuckians.
  • Increase the access and success for all KCTCS students, particularly among traditionally underserved populations.
  • Develop clear pathways through all levels of postsecondary education with an emphasis on experiential learning that lead to successful employment outcomes for KCTCS graduates.
  • Improve student engagement, support, experiences, and success with best-in-class academic and student services.
  • Align programs and curricula with needs of employers that enhance the employability, job placement and career development of KCTCS graduates.
"This plan is aligned with several state agencies and associations, like the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, the Kentucky Department of Education and CPE to ensure we are all focused on a strategic vision for Kentucky," said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair Marcia L. Roth.

The board also approved an increase in the in-state tuition rate for the 2016-17 academic year from $147 to $156 per student credit hour. Out-of-state tuition rates approved include a $312 per credit hour rate for out-of-state students from counties contiguous to Kentucky and $546 for all other out-of-state students.

"KCTCS remains the most affordable higher education option in Kentucky and is less than half the price of all the state's public four-year universities," said Chair Roth.

Projected tuition increases for all of Kentucky's postsecondary institutions are outlined below:
Institution
2015-16 Per Credit Hour tuition
Projected 2016-17 Per Credit Hour Tuition*
University of Kentucky
$443
$465
University of Louisville
$440
$462
Eastern Kentucky University
$340
$358
Kentucky State University
$307
$325
Morehead State University
$333
$351
Murray State University
$317
$335
Northern Kentucky University
$364
$382
Western Kentucky University
$387
$405
KCTCS
$147
$156
*Maximum tuition increases set by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. 

Additionally, the board:
  • Approved a 2016-17 operating budget of $839,607,200, which is a $48.5 million reduction from the prior year and an $89.1 million reduction since 2013-14. The budget does not include any salary increases for faculty and staff. 
     
  • Approved 19,231 academic credential requests (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates).  These credentials include:
    • 11,842 candidates for certificates,
    • 1,160 candidates for diplomas, and
    • 6,229 candidates for associate degrees.
The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents will be September 15-16, 2016 at Ashland Community and Technical College.

HCC Professor Honored
HCC English
Professor Bill Gary was recognized as the Kyndle Educator of the Year during Kyndle's Annual Celebration on June 9, 2016. Bill was nominated by a colleague at HCC for his willingness to help HCC students learn and grow in many ways.

Bill Gary provides service to students through his leadership of the Writing Center, a tutoring Center on campus that helps ensure student communication success. Bill has co-authored textbooks for developmental English students to help them become better writers as they enter college. As an academic advisor, Bill goes above and beyond in helping students develop career paths and ways of contributing to society. Bill and his family take in students on holidays when the students have no family support of their own. Bill is an outstanding educator and his recognition as Educator of the Year is a tribute to his work. 

Thanks to the Breakfast Lions
This past Monday the Breakfast Lions Club of Henderson awarded its annual community grants, made possible through their production of Tri-Fest. HCC benefited from their service with two grants. One is to the Fine Arts Center to help host Arts Smart Camp ($500). The other supports the KCTCS Scholarship Pool ($1,000), which will help a needy student attend classes at HCC. We are grateful to the Breakfast Lions for their support of HCC, its students,
and community!
  
Down Memory Lane
HCC has been featuring older photographs of the campus in its weekly internal newsletter, The Green Street. Professor Tony Strawn shared some of his memories in the last issue of the Green Street.

Memory Lane by Professor Tony Strawn 
The Green Street has been running a series of #TBT on Wednesday photos the last several weeks. They have all brought up fond memories for me. The vast majority of the photos came from The Hill archives. I was the faculty advisor for The Hill, HCC's student newspaper, from fall 1978 until spring 2009. I thought I would take a stroll down memory lane in this edition of the Green Street.
 
My first office was in one of the three temporary buildings located between the ADM and SCR. The building with my office had three sections. The campus pool tables were on one side of my office and the ping pong tables were on the other. Not a real quiet setting but I loved seeing students everyday outside of class. I also had the chance to improve my ping pong skills! There were only three permanent buildings on campus when I started, the ADM, SCR and A&S. The library was under construction.
 
Dr. Marshall Arnold was president, Kenny Gibson was CAO, Bob Park was CSO and James "Sonny" Ward was business dean. In-state tuition for fall 1979 was $17 per credit hour and once a student paid for 12 credit hours, all hours above 12 were included in the full time fee of $195! There was a $1 parking fee and the Student Association fee was $4.50 for part time students and $7 for full time students.
 
I could go on, as most of you know, but space is limited. I would invite anyone who would like to take a stroll down memory lane with me to visit me in my office, LIB 203A, and we can look through 31 years of copies from The Hill. It has been a great 38 years and I look forward to a few more.

Bring a Prospect to College!
Individuals who get even some college education have a stronger base for success--in earning more money, being healthier, and becoming stronger citizens in the community. Do your part--encourage your employees, your relatives, and your friends to attend HCC!

From classes that then transfer to the university of choice (or move one to graduation more quickly) to Associate's degrees leading to a Bachelor's degree, to certificate, diplomas, and Associate of Applied Arts degrees leading directly to a great job--or a promotion in one's current position--HCC has it all. Help an individual live up to their potential and bring a prospect to the college today! (You can also help that prospect--or many other students--directly with a scholarship through the College Foundation--email Jennifer Preston for more information!)  
June 2016 Events
6/20-6/24 - Minority Summer Youth Enrichment Program. Contact Mr. Bill Dixon for information.

July 2016 Events
7/4 - Fourth of July Holiday, college closed.

7/5 - HCC returns to regular hours, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

7/15 - Priority Financial Aid application deadline.

See our HCC Home Page for information on all our college programs and activities. Come visit or call and tell me your suggestions for HCC.

  

Kris Williams, PhD

President/CEO

Phone: 270.831.9626

ADM 110

 

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Kentucky Community and Technical College System