1. Garrett College moving forward
CHAMBER Business Before hours - Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Rich midcap, garrett college president

2. Presidential transition
Arrived in January after 23 years at Chesapeake College
Served 14 years as vice president – mostly in student affairs
Conducting extended “Listening Tour” – internal and external
Primary goal: Ensure Strategic Plan matches needs of county businesses and residents

3. College strengths Relationship with Garrett County Public Schools
Historical support of Garrett County Commissioners
College’s acknowledged role as a community resource
Talented and committed college faculty and staff
Strong credit, workforce training and noncredit programming
STEM Building that will provide state-of-the-art facility

4. College challenges
Demographic issues, including declining high school population
Enrollment challenges mirroring state and national trends
Funding facilities maintenance
Retaining experienced workforce

5. Initiative I: Appropriate programs and services
Align educational offerings with labor market needs
Identify and address obstacles to student success
Provide complete college experience - curricular, co- curricular, extra-curricular

6. Aligning educational offerings
Partner with GCPS on Dual Enrollment, new academic offerings, seamless articulation and potential early college
Work with major employers on specific offerings that address their workforce needs
Utilize organizations like Chamber of Commerce to identify broader employer needs
Employ program advisory boards to help keep academic programs current

7. Identify and address obstacles to student success
Increase number of college- and career-ready students through partnerships with GCPS, ABE, and programs focused on career development
Develop initiatives to increase early engagement of students with faculty, staff and other students

8. Provide students with complete college experience
Strengthen opportunities for service learning, civic engagement and volunteer activities
Investigate feasibility of expanding intercollegiate athletic program along with co- and extra-curricular activities
Develop plan for a student center in the next Master Plan

9. Initiative II: Integration of programs and services
Organize college to deliver integrated credit and non-credit instructional programs and support services
Revise as necessary policies and procedures to eliminate barriers to integrated programming

10. Initiative III: Ensure necessary resources to meet college’s mission
Implement strategies for increasing revenue, decreasing costs
Increase credit and non-credit enrollment
Ensure ability to attract/retain qualified workforce
Plan for continuity of operations, including cross-training and leadership development

11. Initial steps …
Developed computer science degree that resulted from discussions between college and GCPS staff
Prepared to launch electro-mechanical technology certificate
Created cross-divisional enrollment management committee to identify and implement promising enrollment and retention strategies
Reorganized student services to integrate recruitment, marketing and the college website in one area

12. …and moving forward Ensure engagement of business community, schools
Focus resources on both student access and success
Remain responsive to residents’ needs (credit, workforce training, non-credit, community activities)