Bangor Daily News, March 24, 2004

Fairfield college explains its growth

By Sharon Kiley Mack

FAIRFIELD - Kennebec Valley Community College, ranked the 17th-fastest-growing community college in the country, based on its success on building partnerships with the communities and businesses in central Maine.

President Barbara Woodlee said full-time student enrollment increased by 22 percent last fall and she proudly pulled out statistics that show that 96 percent of the Class of 2003 students are employed, with almost 90 percent employed in the field that they studied.

"The first thing we think about when we look at programing," said Woodlee, "is 'Where are the ladders?" The ladders are the links between economic factors, business needs and student desires.

As Woodlee toured her Fairfield campus Tuesday, evidence of the partnerships - the ladders - that Woodlee has worked to create were everywhere. In one room, displaced workers concentrated on precision engineering. In another, students of all ages worked on computer skills. In a third room, nursing students used the latest equipment, provided by Maine General Health hospital.

"When we look at space, we look at what the area business need and then we develop a program," said Woodlee. The school boasts the state's only two-year physical and occupational therapy course, as well as the only health information technology course.

In addition, of the state's seven community colleges, KVCC has the most courses that students can take from remote locations through the Internet.

KVCC began as an experiment in 1969 with second-shift offerings at Waterville High School. "Classes were held from 2:30 to 9:30 in the evening," Woodlee said. In 1982, the school was moved to the 60 acres off Interstate 95 in Fairfield. It's quickly recognized as the facility with all the utility poles out back - evidence of the only public electrical line worker training in New England.

One by one, buildings were added including a $4.4 million library and media center built a year ago.

Today, the school has 2,500 students, with 53 percent seeking degrees. The average student age is 33.

"Somerset County has a 10 percent unemployment rate," said Woodlee. "We have had to respond to that and look at new ways to educated high school graduates as well as displaced workers." To serve this population better, she said, the campus has a day care center, Head Start program and an infant care section, serving more than 50 children of students. "This has been a great retention tool," she said.

"What we worry about daily, what is so central to our mission, is employment," said Woodlee. The effort appears to be paying off, with statistics from the Class of 2003 indicating that KVCC graduates are working in every county in the state: 13 percent in Aroostook County, 40 percent in Kennebec County and 18 percent in Somerset County, she said.