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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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!!

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

• 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?

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

The Impact of the New Pell Grant
Restrictions on Community Colleges:
A Three State Study
Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi
Congressional Briefing by
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 University
Michael T. Miller, University of Arkansas
124 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC
February 12, 2013
THANKS for the
OPPORTUNITY

• In-Service Presentations
• Leadership training for Deans, VPs etc
• Board of Trustees Training
• Enrollment Management Training
(recruitment and retention of students)
• Strategic Planning Facilitation

• 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

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-
2VaqLAlxM&feature=share&list=UUYJ1r5WM0
8t4oNfTryPZ8qg

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42VWeKf9ZE

• 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