We have chance to strengthen 'community' in our local college

We’ve editorialized repeatedly about the importance of our local community college and the opportunity it offers for personal growth.

With Andy Long making a lateral move to the McCook Economic Development Corp. — and already leaving his mark in positive growth — his successor as MCC Vice President, Kelly Rippen, is looking forward to hearing ideas from the public.

McCook Community College and its parent Mid-Plains Community College are planning a series of community input sessions to learn about the needs of students, potential educational partners, employers an employees in its 18-county service area.

The ideas will be evaluated and distilled to become part of the 2019-22 Strategic Plan.

“We know that partnerships and collaboration are key to the vibrancy of our rural economy,” said Tad Pfeifer, the college’s area director of Institutional Effectiveness. “MPCC can play an integral role in tying together the individuals and organizations that are seeking to make their lives and their communities better through opportunities for higher education, community and economic development. We are hoping to see new faces and hear new ideas at these meetings in our communities.”

To truly meet the needs of the community, educational institutions need to be flexible and responsive to changing conditions, and few eras have experienced more changes than the one in which we live.

McCook’s session is set for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, in the McCook Community College Student Union.

Others are set for Sept. 19 in Broken Bow, Sept. 26 in Valentine, Oct. 9 in North Platte, Oct. 10 in Ogallala and Oct. 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m. MT on the MPCC campus in Imperial.