Editorial Page of Cincinnati Enquirer
Few things have happened in Northern Kentucky in the past decade that have more potential to impact both the region's economics and quality of life than creation of a new community and technical college. It combines the best of several Northern Kentucky tech schools and expands academic offerings. This transition, in the works for several years and in high gear now, eventually will make the school into a comprehensive public two-year community and tech college with several campuses of the Northern Kentucky Community and Technical College District.
The goal, says Dr. G. Edward Hughes, founding president and CEO, is to offer state-of-the-art vocational and technical education and more customized workforce training for area businesses and others. Traditional freshman and sophomore college classes will be designed for transfer to four-year colleges. Remedial and other outreach programs are designed to attract more Kentuckians to post-high school study and training.
For now, the Kentucky college district has three campuses - Covington/Park Hills, Edgewood and Highland Heights. They're building another campus in Boone County south of Florence.
Much like the successful and growing Cincinnati State Technical and Community College on the Ohio side of the river, NK Community and Tech College aims to provide more access to affordable, quality, post-secondary education that is relevant to the latest needs of business and industry in this region. This includes industry-customized training programs, apprenticeships and other adult education.
Money, including $10 million in capital dollars, will come from the state of Kentucky. There are plans for a future foundation and outside support.
Northern Kentucky University, which has historically carried the community college function in Northern Kentucky, has evolved into a comprehensive university with predominant interest in bachelor, master and professional programs. A 1999 state-commissioned study of Northern Kentucky education and workforce resources documented a major need for a community/technical college to provide more educated and skilled workers for the growing economy and development of Northern Kentucky.
Community/tech colleges are uniquely American, says Dr. Hughes. There are more than 1,200 in the country, with some 44 percent of U.S. college freshmen and sophomores attending these schools. "We see ourselves as the primary developers of the future American workforce, and many Americans' main access door to higher education," he said.
Northern Kentucky is expected to grow at more than twice the rate of the state as a whole, according to the 1999 needs study. Plus, statewide, there's also the pressing priority to attract more Kentuckians to continue their education past high school. Many of the jobs from which Kentuckians (and Ohio and Indiana residents, too) derive their livelihood are predicted to dramatically change, or disappear completely in the next 10 to 20 years. These different jobs and economy will require a higher-skilled and better-educated workforce than now exists.
The new college is a welcome and worthy partner in making that happen here. Their success will benefit the welfare of this whole region.
Kentucky New Era, Hopkinsville
Classes on Hopkinsville Community College's main North Drive campus begin Aug. 12, and more than 1,800 students already are enrolled in classes as walk-in registrations continue on the main campus, according to HCC advancement officer Jason Warren.
Warren said the campus currently has about 130 more students enrolled than it did last year at the same time on the main campus. Additionally, the Fort Campbell extended campus enrolled nearly 600 students for its July term.
However, Warren said a total fall 2002 enrollment figure will not be available until the Fort Campbell October term enrollment is complete. Both Fort Campbell terms are annually calculated in the official fall semester enrollment figures for HCC, he said.
HCC has added nine classes to its fall 2002 semester schedule.
In a new partnership move with Murray State University, the classes are slated to begin Aug. 21 at the new West Regional Postsecondary Education Center (KCTCS/Murray State University partnership) on Fort Campbell Boulevard.
They will end Dec. 13.
Dr. Bonnie L. Rogers, HCC president, said the community college's new class offerings at MSU represent a positive beginning to the campus' partnership with MSU in the facility.
"We have worked out a cooperative scheduling arrangement with Murray State University officials that serves students while meeting the needs of both institutions," Rogers said.
"Our roles are clear and non-duplicative," she added. "We will offer 100 and 200 level academic transfer courses and serve as a significant feeder institution for MSU baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs."
To keep college affordable for students, HCC is introducing a no–interest payment plan to allow students to make monthly payments for tuition. Through a contract with the FACTS Tuition Management Co., tuition payments will automatically be processed each month through the responsible party's bank account, VISA or MasterCard. According to HCC officials, FACTS is among the least expensive ways for a student to budget payments, and the enrollment process is simple.
"The FACTS plan serves as a convenient, inexpensive, and easy way for students to budget tuition payments," said Beverly Atwood, HCC dean of business. "We are constantly striving to help reduce barriers to students pursuing their educational and vocational goals, and we are excited about the opportunity to better serve our students."
The program begins immediately for students planning now to attend HCC during the 2002 semester. Individuals who register early will be able to budget the entire amount through the FACTS plan.
For information on the new tuition payment plan, individuals may contact HCC's cashier's office at 886-3921, extension 6112 or extension 6113. The FACTS Tuition Management Company may be reached directly by calling toll free 1-800-609-8056.
On April 26, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents approved an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Information Technology with five options in Computer Programming, Network Administration, Web Development and Administration, Information System Support and Electronic Commerce for HCC. According to college officials, the hands-on program will begin implementation in the 2002 semester.
"The AAS degree is designed to meet workforce needs in our service area and responds to a need identified in a recent community-based survey," said Donna Lamprecht, IT program coordinator. "Over the past couple of semesters, we have offered several IT certificates such as A+, Network CISCO Basic, Information Technology Fundamentals, and Web Administrator. The existing certificates are neatly embedded in the newly–approved AAS which will allow students to continue their education by building on credentials they have already earned."