Dr Kreider goes to Washington

The interests of rural community colleges and national policy change were the focus of a summit recently attended by Colby Community College President Dr. Lynn Kreider.

Kreider was one of 15 community college presidents selected from over 1,600 two-year institutions to participate in a dialogue with other rural community college leaders during the one-day meeting in Washington, D.C. The summit was hosted and paid for by the U.S. Department of Education.

In a letter from Dr. Pat Stanley, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of Education, Kreider was chosen because, “It is vitally important to engage you as the president of a rural community college in this discussion because your institution plays an essential role in increasing educational options and economic growth in your region. Furthermore, your geographic location presents an array of challenges and opportunities that distinguish your institution from you urban and suburban counterparts, and these factors should be acknowledged in the national dialogue on higher education,”

The agenda for this meeting included four topics: 1) two- to four-year transitions; 2) adult and non-traditional students; 3) accountability; and 4) leadership.

Participants included presidents from Tucumcari, New Mexico; West Plains, Missouri; Mountain Home, Arkansas; Williston, North Dakota; Roxboro, North Carolina; Hibbing, Minnesota; Big Spring, Texas; Decatur, Mississippi and Price, Utah.

Several preeminent leaders in higher education served as moderators for the event including George Boggs, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges.

U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education participants included Dr. Troy Justesen, Assistant Secretary; Dr. Pat Stanley, Deputy Assistant Secretary; and Dr. Gail Schwartz, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary.

“We discussed several important topics,” said Kreider. “Rural community colleges face different challenges than those in urban areas. We have less access to grants and loans. Communication regarding those opportunities needs to be improved to allow equal access.

“Perkins funds were discussed as well as improvements in the transfer process for our students who wish to continue at four-year schools. Other discussions involved adult learners and their needs and the cumbersome data reporting process which is virtually impossible for small colleges to complete.”

Agenda items for the events were initially addressed in the Office of Vocational and Adult Education’s Community College Virtual Summit held in June 2007.

“These issues deserve further attention and elaboration from a rural perspective,” said Assistant Secretary Pat Stanley. “Our mutual consideration of these topics will yield valuable information and departmental leaders can use to better represent your interests in high-level federal policy decisions.”

“I was honored to be included in this influential group of educators,” said Kreider. “It was a great opportunity to provide input and learn from nationally-recognized leaders in the field of higher education.”