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The Gleaner
February 26, 2005
HCC chief bemoans tech center 'rollercoaster'
Sounding like a weary traveler, Henderson Community College President Patrick
Lake told the school's board of directors Friday that the long-proposed Tri-County
Technology Center "started its journey 12 years ago" and it still
isn't clear when that trek will end.
"It's anyone's guess," Lake sighed, noting that HCC was among the
first post-secondary institutions to seek a technology center, "and may
be among the last to receive one."
The history of the hoped-for center has been a "now you see it, now you
don't" series of expectations and disappointments, and Lake said one supporter
compared it to "a rollercoaster ride. That's a good analogy."
While the $13.1 million center won what was literally 11th hour addition to
the state House of Representatives version of the state budget Feb. 18 and remains
in that budget bill, Senate Republicans indicated Thursday that some serious
trimming must take place in order to get debt service into line.
Sen. Charles Borders, R-Grayson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations and
Revenue Committee, said perhaps as much as $500 million must be cut from the
long list of planned projects that includes the Tri-County Technology Center.
"You have to have resources or you have to cut," Borders said.
Senate Majority Leader Dan Kelly of Springfield indicated that some projects
will be cut, others will be delayed, and some reduced in scope.
State Rep. Gross Lindsay, D-Henderson, said this week that, "We've got
to keep (the center) in at the Senate and not lose it in the free conference
committee (that follows Senate action)." State Sen. Dorsey Ridley, D-Henderson,
pledged that he and Lindsay will "work diligently" to keep the center
in the budget.
Lake said the college, area legislators, Henderson-Henderson County Chamber
of Commerce and others have worked hard to establish the need for the center,
which would be located on the HCC campus.
As a stopgap measure, HCC three years ago leased a 28,000 square foot plant
on Bob Posey Street here to serve as the school's Industrial Engineering Technology
Center. That lease costs $20,000 monthly, and HCC Board Chairman Cass Wilson
asked if funding is available to continue the arrangement.
Lake said there is enough money to continue the lease another academic year,
but he also noted that he's "reasonably confident" that the Kentucky
Community and Technical College System, (KCTCS), will provide future assistance.
In other business Friday, Lake reported that the "No late registration"
policy implemented by HCC at the start of the spring semester has been successful.
HCC undertook that measure as a pilot project for KCTCS.
There typically has been a seven-day grace period in which latecomers could
register, and each semester has seen 50 to 100 individuals start classes later
than their peers. That practice, Lake said, has not been in the best interests
of either faculty or students.
"We've had little or no problem," he said. "Just a couple of
minor glitches. It didn't affect enrollment and tuition didn't drop. It's a
major step forward and we're very happy with it and we're going to continue
it."
Patty Mitchell, dean of student affairs, said the project "was truly an
institutional effort. All faculty and staff helped in that effort."
Showing off the United Way of Henderson County President's Award for companies
employing 100-299 people, Lake congratulated HCC's faculty and staff for contributing
a total of $18,300 to the campaign. Heather McCormick and Lisa Jackson co-chaired
the school's in-house campaign.
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