Recent articles in The Iola Register and Osage County Herald have given the impression that enrollment declines have put the Allen Community College Campus in Burlingame in danger of immediate closure.
I wanted to assure those we serve at that campus that, while we are concerned with the declining enrollment, we have not made any decisions regarding closure and would not do so without the same amount of research and thought that went into its opening. In a conversation with other community college presidents in a recent Zoom meeting, I learned that most colleges with outreach sites, Neosho at Ottawa, Cloud at Junction City, and several others, had experienced significant enrollment declines at those sites. The COVID-19 effect on enrollment overall has been quite negative and must be taken into account.
No critical decision could be made in this environment. Hopefully, next year will begin to give us an opportunity to see what the “new normal” will be like. Burlingame will certainly be a part of that picture.
Our lease agreement with USD 454 in Burlingame, which expires Dec. 31 of this year, has been in place since the early 1990s. I can see no reason why it would not be renewed.
It began as a 10-year lease because the USD had to put significant dollars into its construction and then into a substantial addition to the original building to accommodate our growing enrollment there during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Those costs have been recovered and the building and additions paid off.
I have no doubt regarding the USD’s willingness to renegotiate a shorter lease agreement that is more realistic and flexible in terms of length. The USD has been a great partner over the years and I look forward to working with them in the future.
The development of a strong online program at Allen has provided significant competition for our outreach sites. This is certainly true at Burlingame.
However, there are still students who prefer the opportunities for interaction in a face-to-face classroom. The excellent faculty and staff that we have assembled at Burlingame strive to meet our mission of providing “quality education in a caring atmosphere.” Students have indicated to me that their interaction with that staff has enhanced their academic and personal success. We sincerely hope that as we recover from the effects of the pandemic, the Burlingame Campus will grow and thrive. We will do our best to make that happen.
Best wishes,
John Masterson, president,
Allen Community College