KCTCS President Michael McCall Urges Support for Community Colleges

Michael B. McCall, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, today urged Kentucky lawmakers to maintain support for community colleges despite the difficult economic times. Dr. McCall spoke in Covington at a luncheon hosted by Gateway Community & Technical College, a KCTCS institution, and the Covington Business Council.

We want people to know the value that our colleges have for the community and what they can do for the state. Tough economic times require the education necessary to get jobs. By better educating our citizenry, we are better educating our workplace, Dr. McCall said. We are asking our legislators and the governor to maintain our funding at the current level and to not cut higher education anymore.

Dr. McCall visited Northern Kentucky and Gateway as part of a statewide effort to educate the public about the value added by community and technical colleges.

"I think we're entering our finest moment at KCTCS. We are transforming lives, and we need your help, Dr. McCall said. Our campaign is focusing on really getting the citizens of Kentucky engaged in advocating for KCTCS by involving students, faculty, staff, and community leaders and to focus on what our needs are, said Dr. McCall. But more importantly, to focus on the value that we add to the state.

Earlier in the day, Dr. McCall met with members of the Northern Kentucky legislative caucus and other community leaders at Gateway's Boone Campus in Florence and toured the colleges new Center for Advanced Manufacturing set for completion next spring. This afternoon, he is scheduled to meet with Gateway students, employees and board members.

To support the KCTCS advocacy campaign, we planned a full day of activities to engage community leaders, the public, employees and students in conversations about what community and technical colleges need to fulfill their role, said G. Edward Hughes, Gateway president/CEO. We are proud to be part of the success story that is KCTCS and, most importantly, to contribute to the success of our students and our community by helping them transform their lives.

Last year, the colleges of KCTCS trained more than 120,000 credit-seeking students, nearly 30,000 nursing and allied health students, more than 50,000 employees serving nearly 5,000 businesses, more than 11,000 students who transferred to four-year institutions, and more than 23,000 distance learning students. To learn more about KCTCS and support its advocacy efforts, visit http://transform.kctcs.edu/.