Rural Community Colleges

Randy Smith, Ph.D.President, Rural Community College Alliance

Altus, Oklahoma

Thank You

• Thank You to RCCA Sponsor and breakfast sponsor, American Public University System– Community College Outreach– Academic Programs– Cost of Attendance– Simple MOU– Quality program, Great people to deal with– RCCA Partner– Contact them

Overview• 60% of community colleges are rural serving• Rurals enroll 36% of student population

Urbans 64%• Rurals serve more first time first generation

students than urban and suburbans• Rurals serve higher percentage of minority

students than urban and suburban colleges

Who are we?

• 134 Rural Serving Small• 310 Rural Serving Medium• 144 Rural Serving Large• 36 Tribal Colleges

Rural Demographics

• Socio-economic status of rural communities– Typically poorer– Less access to healthcare– Lack of growth/poor economy/low paying jobs– Decreasing number of high school graduates– Population / size Matters!!

Challenges

• What is the most important challenge/factor facing the rural community college?

• ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT!

Can the Employees answer:

• What is our value?• Why is our college unique?• What is the quality of our academic

programs?• Cost of our college and cost of other colleges

in the region?

Challenges

Challenges• Faculty and administrative retirements• Attracting faculty to teach at a rural college • Crumbling or dated physical plant / facilities• Declining population, lack of economic and

workforce development• Fewer High School Graduates• Finances (expect more with less)• Inability to keep up with technology trends

Opportunities• What do two year colleges typically do better

than other institutions of higher education?

• 1. INSTRUCTION. We are student centered and focused

• 2. Ability to change and adapt quickly

The Alliance

• Anything to help and assist rural colleges to be more effective in serving students, communities and stakeholders

• Clearing house of information• Federal Policy advocacy• Annual Conference• Annual DC day, White House visit

The Alliance

• Connect ‘like” colleges to each other – get them to communicate!

• Frequent member calls (student services, athletics, Ag, international, economic development, etc)

• USDA MOU• New Legislation in Farm Bill

The Alliance

• Research– Rural Scholars panel– Three State Pell Study– Kansas Pell Study– Demographics Studies– New college district in Pennsylvania

study / report

Congressional Briefingby

Stephen G. Katsinas, Director and Professor, Education Policy Center, The University of Alabama

with Janice Nahra Friedel, Associate Professor, Iowa State University

James E. Davis, Associate Professor, Stennis Institute, Mississippi State UniversityMichael T. Miller, University of Arkansas

124 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC

February 12, 2013

The Impact of the New Pell Grant Restrictions on Community Colleges:

A Three State Study Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi

THANKS for the OPPORTUNITY

The Alliance

• In-Service Presentations• Leadership training for Deans, VPs etc• Board of Trustees Training• Enrollment Management Training

(recruitment and retention of students)• Strategic Planning Facilitation

Rural Colleges……

• Do more with less……• Are tied into their communities big time• Operate in a unique way.• Tied into workforce and economic

development• Participate with the community in numerous

ways……as are the employees

Rural Colleges

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-2VaqLAlxM&feature=share&list=UUYJ1r5WM08t4oNfTryPZ8qg

Is this you?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42VWeK-f9ZE

We Need You!!

• Share, interact and communicate with rural serving colleagues nationwide!

• Share challenges and opportunities• Become involved in YOUR organization• We need you and you need us!• Cost is only $595 a year, for the institution

Thank you for your participation, time and attention!

• Randy.Smith@ruralccalliance.org• 580-481-0249

• www.ruralccalliance.org

• Thank you to our sponsor