The seventh president for McHenry County College met with members of the media Wednesday morning. Dr. Vicky Smith, the first female president for the college in its 43 year history, explained why she accepted the position stating, "McHenry County College has a strong framework and committed employees. It holds great opportunity for growth and collaboration, as well as the potential for new programs based on the needs in this district."
She also noted that she would not work anywhere else but at a community college because she is passionate about the students served by such an institution. "I want to serve the students who need the most help for further education as they face financial challenges and have full time jobs and family to handle while pursuing an education," explained Dr. Smith.
She comes to McHenry County College from Neosho County Community College, a two campus college in eastern Kansas. In some respects she is returning to her home state. Dr. Smith grew up on a grain farm near Decatur, Illinois. She received her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Northern Illinois University, her Educational specialist (Ed.Spec.) and Bachelor in Education (BS. in Ed) degrees from Eastern Illinois University. Her Master in Science (MS) was from the University of Illinois.
She says the focus for McHenry County College will be in five key areas. These include:
• Planning and the implementation of plans
• Student Learning and Student Success
• Development of our people to meet the next phase of the College
• Economic, Workforce and Community Development
• Systems and Processes Improvement
Dr. Smith explains that the areas of focus are centered on ensuring that we meet our mission, which at the core is that "MCC values learning, and puts the interest of our students and community first..."
Dr. Smith also informed her audience she likes community colleges because they are nimble and really do try to respond and meet the needs of individuals. A community college many times is the only opportunity for higher education as travel time to a four-year institution is too great for many students.
She told her audience she spent her first week here on a daily schedule from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm but met a lot of the community and the people she met had nothing but good things to say about the county college and what it holds for them.
While at Neosho County College Dr. Smith initiated new academic programs in health care, "green" construction, computer science, and sustainable energy, as well as developing collaborative partnerships with K-12, business and industry, four-year colleges and universities, and other community colleges. Under her leadership, NCCC had been the fastest growing community college in Kansas for the last seven years, rising from 18th out of 19th in size to 12th in size through increasing student retention, expanding on-line education, and implementing successful student support services and programs.
Dr. Smith served as a Vice-president for Academic Services at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, before working at Neosho County Community College. She also was the president of a small community college in the Minnesota State College and University System—Austin Community College.
The new MCC President will hold her first Trustees Meeting Thursday evening. In fact there are three separate meetings. A Committee of the Whole will meet at 5:30 p.m. That agenda indicates the selection of a Chair for the Finance and Audit Committee and a review of the Board Packet for the Regular Board meeting which will be conducted beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Prior to that meeting, a Budget Hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Smith is shown signing her contract at an earlier visit to the College.
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