Tower_Winter_17 - 3

From The
President's Desk
T

Dr. William E. Griscom
President

he result of an overwhelming demand for our programs by prospective students (2,500)
coupled with an overwhelming demand by employers (1,330 with 3,000 jobs) for our
graduates, has made expansion our number one priority. The new Software Engineering
Program, featured in this issue of the Tower, is the latest example of the College's efforts in
this area. This follows the recent addition of the Residential Remodeling Program and the
Welding Program which were preceded by the significant expansion of the Metal Fabrication
& Welding and the Electrical Technology Programs. The College has a list of required criteria
it utilizes to evaluate the potential on any new program. These criteria are listed below:
* Is the proposed program technical in nature? (Examples: Construction; Manufacturing;
Information Technology; Energy; Transportation; Communication; Other)
* Are there comparable programs in the region currently meeting the workforce needs to
be addressed by the proposed program?
* Are the job opportunities for graduates of the program high skill/high wage with starting
salaries of $30,000 or greater?
* Is the placement potential of graduates now and in the foreseeable future 90% or greater?
* Is there significant enrollment potential for: students in general; under-resourced
students: minorities; women?
* Will the program prepare students for employment that has a career path i.e.,
opportunities for advancement?
* Does the program support the workforce needs of the region and the Commonwealth?
* Will the program require significant space (over 3,000 s.f.) or capital equipment?
* Is there any potential for one-time or on-going support?
If the College's State appropriation is not significantly increased, all additional new programs
will have to meet the criteria above and also be: relatively inexpensive to start; inexpensive
to operate; and require minimal infusions of capital funds in the future. Without significant
additional funds, capital intensive programs such as diesel mechanics, cannot be added
although the need for skilled technicians in this and other areas is critical. These restrictions
make expansion very difficult.
The other major barrier to the College's expansion is the limited capacity of the dining hall
and dormitories. Both are identified as obstacles on the Master Plan's critical path. The
current Dining Hall was built in 1978 when enrollment was 300 students. The capacity of the
Dining Hall is 150. Students must be cycled through the facility in 30 minute intervals. Our
resident hall capacity has also been reached and exceeded. At the beginning of this year three
students were assigned to a room where possible, which increased our capacity by 50 students
to 550. Our current enrollment of 1,142, is almost a 40 percent increase over the last ten years,
exceeding our capacity for dining and dormitory accommodations.
When viewed in the context of the demand by applicants and the demand for graduates, the
College's limitations to expand are both an impediment to economic growth and deprive
some of the Commonwealth's most under-resourced and deserving citizens, the opportunity
to change the circumstances of their lives and become productive citizens. If this situation is
to change it will require strong leadership by all of our elected officials in order to reallocate
funding to programs and college's that are aligned with the needs of the economy.
The Tower * 2017 Fall 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tower_Winter_17