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| Miles Community College State of the
College Address |
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 (The
following is an excerpt from the Miles Community College State
of the College address President Stefani Hicswa gave Monday,
August 25 at the Fall 2008 Faculty and Staff In-Service)
America faces serious challenges that community colleges are
positioned to address. According to George R. Boggs, CEO of the
American Association of Community Colleges, in the next 10 years
it is projected that there will be an increase in the number of
traditional college-aged students attending college, tuition
costs at universities are expected to rise significantly,
business and industry are driving the growing need for lifelong
learning, and national economic factors are forcing people to
consider alternative careers. Research tells us that there will
also be a wave of baby boomers attending community colleges to
prepare for the next chapters in their lives.
Currently community colleges enroll 46% of all undergraduate
students. That number is expected to increase. Community
colleges are an integral part of the solution to the country's
economic issues. We are well positioned to take on these
challenges.
As you know, Miles Community College opens doors for those who
would not otherwise have a chance and we are a catalyst for the
development of local economies through workforce development and
training.
Yet, we must have resources necessary to serve our students. We
need to be proactive in leveraging our resources to best meet
our goals, and in determining where we should invest our finite
resources. It is important that we reach out to partners in the
region and continually demonstrate the value of the community
college. Local businesses are willing to get involved, but they
need guidance on how best to help.
We must constantly monitor proposed policies that do not make
sense for our institutions and the kinds of students we serve.
Community college leaders must be a voice that educates and
promotes. This is our essential and never-ending obligation.
However, Ding-Jo Currie, Chair of the American Association of
Community Colleges Board of Directors, has stated that true
advocacy requires not a single voice that can be heard
throughout the community, but a collective voice heard in unison
throughout the region, state, and country. Our job is to invite
others to join in telling the story of the community college.
Let us use unity as our power and passion, to carry the voice
for community colleges.
Stefani Hicswa, Miles Community College President
August 25, 2008 |
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