As I head out tonight on the first of my last two listening tour stops for 2009, I thought it might be good to give you a brief overview of what I’ve been hearing in these forums and many others. So, here goes . . .
-- This should come as no surprise, but the community feels incredible respect and affection for MCC. I’ve spoken with graduates and students, parents of graduates and students, retirees, and community members with no specific affiliation with MCC, all of whom have espoused support for the college and its mission. The college has truly and unequivocally changed lives and created many ambassadors in its graduates.
-- Time after time, individuals have spoken about the value of MCC’s role in workforce development and the need to expand the connection between the college and the economic development of the region. Some of these folks were employers who have made a specific commitment to hire and/or work with MCC grads, some were workers who have benefitted from the training and retraining we offer, and some are community leaders concerned about charting a stronger path for the future of Rochester. All saw MCC’s responsiveness, especially in its career and technical programs, as central to developing the community’s economy -- both historically and moving forward.
-- The high quality of our programs always surfaces in conversation. The quality message has come through over and over, no matter the venue. Other college presidents speak highly of our students and the education they received at MCC as do employers, students, graduates, and parents. Many graduates can remember the exact faculty who finally set them on the path to their major or who defined the expectations that led them to success. Others have spoken of their involvement in specific clubs or teams or student activities, and how these interactions changed their perspectives and broadened their horizons.
-- And, MCC’s quality almost always comes up in the same breath as its affordability. I have received incredibly positive feedback on the affordability of an MCC quality education in forums ranging from a breakfast meeting at a local university to my doctor’s office. In fact, in several venues, I actually heard gasps of surprise when I shared MCC’s tuition. However, it’s also worth balancing this reception with the comments I’ve received from some of our students, who are able to attend and make new lives for themselves because of our reasonable tuition.
-- MCC’s ability to reach out to specific student populations has also been a topic of conversation. Some have been interested in the college’s work with returning veterans and the new GI Bill. Others have focused on dual credit and pre-collegiate programs. Once I ran into two parents who couldn’t stop talking about how valuable the intersession program had been for their children.
-- And, finally, while we sometimes think everyone knows everything about MCC, it’s clear that this is not always the case. I’ve heard from people who have driven by the campus for years and don’t know what happens here. I’ve toured our campuses with community, business, and governmental leaders who didn’t realize the scope of what we offer. I’ve had discussions with neighbors who don’t understand the role of community colleges. I’ve talked to potential students who didn’t know if there was a place for them at MCC. These are important voices to hear as they remind us that we must keep telling our story and make sure that it gets heard.
I have to admit, I love listening. Community colleges were designed to be responsive to their communities (hence the name). But, we can’t respond if we don’t listen. When people share their stories, their questions, their concerns, their dreams, it opens up a world of opportunity. Now, we need to act on this opportunity and build for the future. I look forward to continuing this dialogue about MCC -- inside and outside of the college, and thank all of you for letting me be part of the community.
And, now for something new . . . I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this. You can be part of the conversation at my President's Blog at
President’s Wednesday Message. Each week, beginning today, we will post the Wednesday Message for your comments so that this can truly be a dialogue. Join in!
Next week . . . recruiting the future.