There weren’t any real surprises Wednesday, but a gathering of area community members to discuss Allen Community College nevertheless stressed the importance of meeting oncoming challenges and threats.
Wednesday’s SCOTs meeting gave the public an opportunity to share their views of the college, in particular, its strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats.
And while the crowd had little difficulty in sharing their views on ACC’s strengths — affordability, diversity and the economic impact of having a college in the area — much of the morning’s two-hour brainstorming session focused on challenges and threats, and the opportunities that ACC hopes to create in the coming years.
Dr. Bruce Moses, in his first year as ACC president, noted the SCOTs discussion is the first step in helping him and other Allen administrators develop the college’s short- and long-range plans.
Moses said the college will have its newest strategic plan in place by July 1.
FIRST, the good news.
Allen’s strengths leave the college well-equipped to meet educational challenges that may arise.
With ACC’s costs a fraction of other schools of higher learning, and typically more affordable than other community colleges in the state, Allen will forever have an advantage where price is a factor for families to consider, several noted.
On top of that, with students there from around the world — ACC has many international athletes — the school brings a wondrous melting pot of diversity to Iola that many may not realize exists.
On top of that, Ken McGuffin, a retired school administrator and former college trustee, pointed to the college’s economic impact on Allen County, as one of the largest employers in the area.
“A lot of people look at the college, and just think of their tax bill,” McGuffin said. “They don’t think about what the college brings to the community.”
BUT WITH those strengths lie a number of challenges and threats, audience members agreed.
While the college has a diverse student population, it’s often difficult to integrate those students into the community. Because ACC lacks any organized transportation system, many are prevented from venturing too far off campus most days.
Attracting students to Allen in a changing society is likely the top challenge, Moses noted.
“We feel as an institution, our number one goal is to increase enrollment,” he said.
That means adapting to changing educational roadmaps, including the ongoing development of online education.
