Allen Community College trustee candidates kicked off Farm Bureau’s candidate forum Saturday morning by fielding questions on the college’s online learning program and technical college opportunities. GOVERNOR BROWNBACK has shown great interest in vocational technology. A patron asked how the trustees foresee bringing back a vocational technology building.
Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin are running for reelection on the board. Mary Kay Heard is running for an open seat on the board and Delbert Nelson, a former trustee, is also running.
Mediator Dr. Darrell Monfort said he has attended multiple board meetings and has noticed an uptick in online learning.
“There are mixed emotions on my part,” Monfort said. “I understand it and we don’t want to say it but education is a business and current trends are moving to a lot of online courses.“
“A lot of kids are taking online classes but they never come to Allen County. As a taxpayer that some what bothers me,” Monfort said.
Nelson agreed.
“I understand the economic side of it but it’s so important to me that there is hands-on learning,” Nelson said. “I’m not a strong believer in it and I need to persuaded.”
Trustee Ambler said there are various reasons online learning is important to the college.
“Not everyone can afford and spend time at our campus courses,” Ambler said. “We have mothers who need to take classes and people who can’t make it there. I don’t think you have to come to Allen County to get a good education. People can get the courses they need that they can’t get somewhere else.”
Trustee McGuffin added to Ambler’s point. McGuffin admits personally he’s never taken an online course but sees the benefits of the program.
“It’s hard to change people who think the only education is for the teacher in front of the classroom,” he said. “When you talk to people who have taken courses you find out that it’s very strenuous, they are proctored, they have harder requirements. I’m coming around to it and we are a pioneer in online learning.”
The college has had conversations with the Kansas State University agriculture program for a 2+2 program. If the plan is approved, Allen would almost exclusively provide the first two years of courses for the KSU ag program.
Heard realizes times are changing at the college.
“Online is here to stay. I feel sad for any student who doesn’t get to be on our campus at some point and time,” she said. “I think it’s an important growing up experience. I think the college does a good job with it. It’s a good thing.”
“We would love to work with local industries and have partnerships,” McGuffin said. “John (Masterson) and the deans try to work with any lead they can get for students. Funding is so tied to tech.”
However, studies have shown a predominate share of students attend Allen as a stepping stone to get a university degree, McGuffin said.
Ambler said Allen is small institution which makes it difficult to keep programs current.
“We built a tech building out there years ago,” Ambler said. “These programs are expensive and it’s hard to stay current. I wish we could get the funding tech schools do. We didn’t have the enrollment at our small institution. This is why we dropped it.”
Heard, who currently serves as president of Iola Industries, has seen the college reach out to local industries to revitalize vocational learning.
“I’ve watched for years as John works with our board and the heads of all the industries,” she said. “We realize there are a lot of kids who don’t go away to four-year schools. It would be great if there was a way to keep kids in the community and get them jobs.”
Online opportunities on topic
