FSCC seeks collaboration with Allen County Community College

Herald - Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott Community College officials are looking into a possible collaboration with Allen County Community College in Iola.

The FSCC Board of Trustees has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday in the FSCC Heritage Room, 2108 S. Horton St., to discuss a potential partnership with ACCC that would allow officials at both colleges to share plans and ideas that could be beneficial for both staff and students in the future. The partnership would involve input from both colleges on ideas related to educational programs and services, budget matters, and other areas, officials said.

"We wanted to get together with both boards to talk about a potential collaboration between the two colleges," FSCC President Clayton Tatro said.

Allen County Com-munity College President John Masterson said he supports the proposed partnership because the two schools share a long history of working well together.

"Any close collaboration has to have a lot of trust involved," he said. "You want to become familiar with the folks you're dealing with. We want to establish a relationship of trust and feel good about working together ... This (meeting) is about the boards having a chance to visit with one another and become familiar. Hopefully, something will come of it."

Masterson also said he and Tatro have met recently several times to "visit about how colleges can do some things together -- things that are beneficial."

"There's a potential for sharing personnel and even equipment (in the partnership)," Masterson said. "It's about having a cooperative advantage and sharing ideas."

Recent funding cuts that have created financial problems at higher education institutions statewide and the idea of sharing ideas for programs and services are other reasons FSCC and ACCC officials are considering the partnership, Tatro said.

"With more financial rescissions projected in the future, we want to discuss possible cost-sharing initiatives," he said. "We want to talk about ways we can work together in an effort to try to improve student services and save money."

There are three primary reasons why a partnership between FSCC and ACCC would be a positive move for both colleges, Tatro said.

"The college is close by, plus they have the same administrative software package that we do, so that makes some sense there," he said.

"And third, they are the largest institution in Southeast Kansas with the best return on investments to the local taxpayer. We want to work with them on the best ways to manage our budgets."

Masterson added that he has worked with many past FSCC presidents and that the two colleges have enjoyed a positive relationship the last several years.

"There are opportunities for each of our service areas," he said.

If the collaboration between the two colleges is successful, it could expand in the future, Masterson said.

"Even a third college might be brought into this," he said. "I could see us stretching this thing out."

Tatro said he anticipates all board members from both colleges to attend the special Monday meeting, which could be the first of many possible meetings between the two boards concerning the collaboration.

"We anticipate meeting regularly once or twice a year," he said.