SCCC/ATS Invites Public Comment On Name Change

Seward County Community College/Area Technical School has asked for the public’s perspective as it begins the process of a name change.

Background:

The issue of a name change surfaced at the end of 2015 when board chair Ron Oliver received his annual tax bill, which said, “Seward County Junior College.” The wording is connected to legal definitions about property titles and deeds, and can’t be updated without official action. That prompted the board to consider a name change now, rather than waiting for the College’s 50th anniversary in 2019. Research through college records and first-person interviews did not uncover solid documentation of when and how various name changes took effect. In 2008 and 2009, Seward County Community College/Area Technical School became the College’s official name. At the time, Seward County residents may recall, the decision to join two long-standing educational bodies caused concern. The State of Kansas promised funding to ease the transition, but the money never materialized. Over time, however, employees found a way to become one college, to work as one team, and to share one set of priorities and dreams.

Today:

A new web site will debut in the spring of 2016, and it is just one of nine key projects to transform and optimize our effectiveness and scope. All these “Movers” leverage the energy and optimism that have materialized in the last three months. It’s natural at this point, administrators and board members believe, to settle the question, “What will be the name of our College?” The Board has a clear sense that it should be Seward County Community College. As stakeholders valued and trusted by the College, community members have an opportunity to ensure the College considers its past, the former Vo-Tech, and the past eight years of slow but steady assimilation. If you are a graduate, parent, team member or retiree, you own a piece of that history. What you recall is unique. It might be something related to a high-achieving graduate, or a person who has since died or moved away, but deserves to be remembered and honored. We ask you to share your thoughts, memories and considerations as we embark on the name-change process. As we move forward, we aspire to collect these stories in some form that ensures the people who helped make this College great are not forgotten.

Looking Ahead:

The Board set a brisk pace, and plans to vote on the name change at the March 7 meeting. At the same meeting, the board will receive solid plans and prices for a paved, landscaped walking path to connect the central and northernmost sections of campus. The path will serve a practical purpose and show — with more than words — that the collaborative process is real; that the history and presence of multiple ways of learning are valued; that the sometimes painful process of healing and binding together has been largely accomplished, and that we — as ONE College — have much to celebrate and anticipate. As we Move Seward Forward, shade trees and places to pause will provide refreshment to everyone on the path and complement the choice of one name for this College.

To share:

If you have thoughts or memories to share about the College’s name, its history, and that of the former Vo-Tech, please contact us. We want to honor and preserve our heritage! President Dr. Ken Trzaska: [email protected]; Lois Magner: 620-417-1011; Rachel Coleman, Dir. of Marketing & Public Information: 620-417-1125, [email protected]