Abramson picks liaison for work-force development

New name is: Hazard Community and Technical College

Hazard Community College building named in honor of Dr. Jolly

Business First
August 18, 2003

Abramson picks liaison for work-force development

Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson has chosen Dan Ash to serve as his liaison for work-force development and education, according to a news release.

Ash, executive director of Metropolitan College, will work with business, education and government organizations on "increasing educational attainment levels and connecting more people to good jobs and careers," the release said.

Metropolitan College is a partnership among United Parcel Service Inc., Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, the University of Louisville, Jefferson Community and Technical Colleges and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was created to help meet work force needs at the UPS Worldport air hub in Louisville. The 275-million-square-foot facility, which became fully operational in 2002, serves as the company's main air hub.

"Dan has been immensely successful in bringing Metropolitan College from an idea to a national model of creative collaboration," Abramson said in the release. "Our community's most pressing need is to improve the education and skill level of our work force, so that Louisville can compete and prevail in the knowledge-based economy. Dan will bring his considerable skills in developing partnerships and practical solutions to this task."

Hazard Herald
August 20, 2003

New name is: Hazard Community and Technical College

There's a new name in town. The college is now renamed Hazard Community and Technical College, to reflect the consolidation of the technical side of education and the community college.

A ceremony was held Monday, Aug. 18, at 10:15 a.m. because that's a time between classes, so students at all campuses to attend the historic occasion. As part of the ceremony, banners were unveiled at all five locations.

Dr. Jay K. Box, president and CEO of Hazard Community and Technical College, made the announcement at the Technical Campus while at the same time Judy Mitchell, Vice President of Resource and Community Development was at the Ky. 15 campus; Dr. R. Kathy Smoot, Provost and Vice President of Academics spoke at the Lees College Campus in Jackson; Fred Landrum, Vice President of Business at the Knott County Branch and the Leslie County Center with Doug Fraley, Vice President for Student Services.

"This truly is a major event in the history of our college," Dr. Box said. "This renaming reflects the collaborative relationship which was formed following the merger of the technical school and the community college. Our goal is promoting collaborations that make it easier for students to earn and transfer credits, and smoothing the transition of students into the new system that better serves customers such as business and industry," he said.

Judy Mitchell noted in Hazard, "Our community and technical colleges separately always have done a good job of serving their communities, but this new name reflects our ability to do so even better."

Dr. R. Kathy Smoot told a crowd in Jackson, "Our faculty, staff and administrators from the community and technical college have worked to expand academic and job-training partnership."

Fred Landrum said in Hindman that "Serving as one college has greatly reduced duplication. We have one college administration, we have consolidated Academics, Business offices, Student Services, Community and Resources Development, Technology, Personnel, Printing, and have one office to work with the media."

Doug Fraley, while in Hyden, stated, "We are now Hazard Community and Technical College. The community college portion started in 1968 and the technical school, or vocational school as it was referred to, started in 1945. The new name reflects our new future, which is providing the best education possible for students.

While at the ceremony and the new signs were unveiled, license plates were given to each person attending, which reflects the new name.

Dr. Box also announced a contest that involves another renaming. What has been called the Technical Campus in Walkertown will be renamed along with the Hazard Campus, which denotes the Ky. 15 location. The campus cannot be named after a person. The deadline is Sept. 3 and all suggested names for the two campuses should be submitted in writing to Evelyn Wood, Public Relations Director, Hazard Community and Technical College, One Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701 or to Evelyn.Wood@kctcs.edu

The new campus names will be announced after Oct. 1.

Hazard Herald
August 20, 2003

Hazard Community College building named in honor of Dr. Jolly

Hazard, KY -- Hazard Community and Technical College will honor Dr. J. Marvin Jolly, the first president of Hazard Community College, by renaming the Learning Resource Center Building.after him. The dedication of the J. Marvin Jolly Classroom Center will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. The Jolly Center houses the President's suite, Business Office, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the Bruce and Virginia J.Jo Stephens Library, classrooms and laboratories, auditorium, as well as faculty and staff offices.

When the college began in 1968, Dr. Jolly provided the leadership until 1985 when he retired.

In the first days, there was no permanent building and a small faculty and staff, but Dr. Jolly knew the vision for the community college and he worked with faculty to make sure the students received the best education possible. "Hazard Community College was the best place to go to get a college education in the state," Dr. Jolly said, adding that he reminded faculty "you will be student oriented." Reviewing student evaluations of faculty members was important to him as he reminded the teachers and staff that "the student was the reason we were there" and that all students were "treated fairly and courteously."

Dr. Jay K. Box became the third college president/CEO in 2002, succeeding Dr. G. Edward Hughes. Dr. Box noted that Dr. Jolly's emphasis on students is one that continues today, noting that the college still employs faculty members who taught while Dr. Jolly was president. "Our faculty members are committed to student success and I'm constantly pleased when I learn of innovations and the excitement about learning that's going on in the classroom ever since Dr. Jolly came to this institution and set that standard," Dr. Box said.

Dr. Jolly was hired following a nationwide search at age 39, after he had worked in high school administration and taught on the college level. Prior to that, he had been drafted and fought in Korea. After returning home, he finished his college degrees.

He was hired by the late Ellis Hartford, the first dean of the University of Kentucky Community College System who served under then UK President John Oswald.Oswell. The late former Governor Bert T. Combs, Dr. Oswald and Dr. Hartford had the vision for the community college that would change Kentucky because education would be made accessible to folks throughout the state. "Our thrust was to make a difference in our community," Dr. Jolly said, adding he would meet with the other community college presidents in the state on a monthly basis to work out how the schools would operate.

"Having enough money to do what we wanted was a big challenge," Dr. Jolly said. "We were constantly faced with needing the dollars and we were told by UK not to lobby for the money we needed."

"We had lots of super bright students, many who went on to become teachers, lawyers and doctors and in this area," Dr. Jolly said, noting that the majority of the students came to HCC because they planned to transfer on to a four-year school. "The students were so very supportive of our school. The entire community was behind us because they wanted this college so much."

"Having this building named for me is one of the kindest and nicest things that has ever happened to me," noted the former president.74-year-old. "I am deeply appreciative."

The growth of the college since 1968 is evident in many ways. Dr. Jolly said he started with 14 professional staff (including ten faculty members), three secretaries and two maintenance workers on the payroll. Now there are 305 employees with the added locations of the Technical Campus, Lees College Campus in Jackson, Knott County Branch in Hindman, the Leslie County Center in Hyden as well as the Kentucky School of Craft and Kentucky Appalachian Artisan Center and the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky.

Dr. Jolly and wife Joyce have one son, James M. Jolly Jr., who graduated from Hazard Community College in 1978. He is a 1976 Hazard High School graduate and is a dentist in Hazard. James Jolly and his wife, Judy, have two sons, James Marvin (Trey) Jolly III, age 13, and Alex Butler, age 10.

Dr. Jolly was born in Warrior, Alabama where he graduated from high school. His bachelor's degree in history and education is from Florence State College in Alabama; his master's degree in school administration is from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. in 1955; his doctorate degree is from Colorado State College in Greeley in 1960. While at Colorado State he held a fellowship with the Educational Planning Service.

He held assistant high school principal jobs in Chumuckla, Florida and Robertsdale, Alabama and worked as principal in schools in Brooksville, Florida, and Lithonia, Georgia. He was associate professor of education at Augusta College in Georgia.

The public is invited to the Aug. 26 ceremony. Dr. Jolly issues a special invitation to all former students and faculty members. Guest speakers will include Dr. Keith Bird, chancellor of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS); Bill Engle, chair of the college's Board of Directors; Ann Hurt, the first HCC coordinator of Student Personnel Services, and the honoree's son, Dr. James M. Jolly Jr.