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Round two of FSCC applicants' visits: Sara Harris
The second of four applicants for the Fort Scott Community College president's job visited Fort Scott Thursday. As part of her interview process, Sara Harris of Independence spoke to community members during an afternoon session at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
Harris said her desire to be involved in education came at an early age, when she wanted to be a teacher. Her first teaching job was at age 16, when she taught 12 students piano lessons. But by the time she turned 18, her goals changed from teaching to living on a farm as a wife and mother.
"And that worked really good for about six years and I decided I wanted to go back to school," Harris said.
She enrolled at Colby Community College, then transferred to Fort Hays State University where she earned her bachelor's in history and English education and master's degrees in history.
Her first teaching job was seventh through 12th grade social studies. From there, she went to Neosho County Community College where she taught history for about 12 years.
"But I'm not a person who likes routine too terribly much, so about the time I was in about my 90th time of telling of the Civil War, I figured we might have the south win and see what happens," Harris said. "I knew it was time to be looking for another adventure."
She said she also came to realize she didn't want to be one of those people who stands in the hallways and complains. She said decided she wanted to be someone who could help make changes. For a while she worked with the advising team, she started and honors program and was an advisor for Phi Beta Kappa.
"I discovered I really like having an impact more than just in my classroom," she said.
She earned a doctorate in educational leadership at Baker University. Her first administrative job was at NCCC Ottawa campus where, as assistant dean, she ran the business office, advising office, student activities and was involved in recruiting.
She then had the opportunity to become the dean of instruction at Labette Community College. During her five years at LCC, Harris said the college did "some fantastic things." The college worked on program reviews and she was part of the accreditation team. She lead a team for a pilot project Open Learning Pathways Project, which was part of the Higher Learning Commission.
She took the position of vice president of academic affairs at Independence Community College. During the 2.5 years she was at Independence, academic assessment was important. She was involved in the establishment of a tutoring center, workforce development department and grant writer.
"But I'm ready for my next opportunity," Harris said.
She said the best part of being at a community college is working with the students.
"The best day of the year is always graduation, when you see these students you've known for a couple of years walk across the stage," Harris said. "And knowing they're going on to something because of what we have been able to help them do."
Community questions
Harris was asked about the Allied Health programs at Independence, but she said it is not a strong program at ICC. However, there are certified nurse aid and certified medication aid programs, with "really good classes," which are being taught in four high schools. She said LCC has six health programs. She said she often met with the leaders of those programs because their needs were unique to the general faculty.
"Making sure that from the first day of class, studying for nursing is different than studying for history," Harris said. "Nobody dies if you don't pass the history test. You don't get to be a nurse if you don't pass the test at the end of the program."
She said it is important to make sure nursing students have the support they need to learn and pass their tests.
She was also asked to talk about her experience with satellite sites. Besides being directly involved at NCCC in Ottawa, she said it's important to make sure services are duplicated, but services and recruiting has to be done differently because there is a different population. She said the challenge is keeping the line of communication open between the satellite and the main campus.
She said she was involved when LCC opened its satellite campus at Cherokee and was involved in ensuring the education and services were consistent with what takes place in Parsons.
Another option for students is taking online courses, which FSCC has in place. She said those courses might need further development in the future, as they offer a unique teaching opportunity because of the technology and the environment.
"I don't know what the answer for Fort Scott is, but I know it has to be answered," she said.
She praised the FSCC ag program, even though she admitted she doesn't know a lot about the program, but she is interested in learning about it.
Economic development programs
Harris was asked how she balances the needs of the community with the needs of the students in regards to provide employable graduates.
"That's always an issue," Harris said. "You just have to do the best you can."
She said FSCC has "excellent programs" that are bringing students in to train them for careers.
"Part of it is being out there in the community enough to know what those needs are," Harris said. "Sometimes they're not a long training program. Sometimes they're just a short seminar."
She said during her experience in beginning a workforce development program, a half-time staff member spent the first six months on the job meeting with businesses to determine their needs and how the college could help. At first the response was the college couldn't help, but then employers began asking assistance with soft skills training.
"A lot of it is just one-on-one and letting the community know we're here to support," Harris said. "If there's something you need, that's our job. We'll provide it. We're good at that."
She has experience with working with high schools to provide concurrent classes, which are less expensive than advanced placement courses, and will transfer easier.
Future of community colleges
She said she has always attended board meetings, even as a faculty member.
"The role of the board is to represent the taxpayers, to make sure their money is being used to its best benefit," Harris said. "They've got a very important role. The role of the president is to help them know enough so they can make the decision they need to make."
She also was asked to talk about the three funding sources and the idea of colleges consolidating.
"Truthfully, if you look across the United States, community colleges are here, and they're here to stay because they serve a significantly important part of education," Harris said. "Having watched what goes on at the state level for the almost 20 years that I've been in Kansas, I don't think it's an immediate concern, but part of what we have to do is be better at telling our own story about what community colleges do."
She said instead of talking about success rates, the story should be about the student who would not have had an opportunity at a career had it not been for a community college.
She said collaborating with other colleges is "a good thing," and FSCC is better situated should the state start pushing for consolidation. She said FSCC has an advantage because of its location, which is farther away from other community colleges and there is a better population to draw from. She said FSCC also has several unique programs that give FSCC its identity.
She said "alliances are great," but, because of the local control through boards of community colleges, she would have a lot of questions when it comes to talking about merging a community college with a university.
"I've chosen to work at community colleges for the last 18 years because I like what community college does," Harris said. "I don't want to work at a university. They're fine. They've got a different mission. I like the mission of a community college.
"It worries me when people talk about getting rid of (a community college) because they don't realize what they're getting rid of, the value that it brings to a community, to the students in a community. I'd sure have to learn a lot of what the benefits would be to Fort Scott before I would be in favor of something like that."
Because the outlook for state funding does not look good, she said educating state leaders on a community college's value.
Locally, she said taxpayers want to know their money is spent wisely. She said most community colleges have already streamlined because they have been on tight budgets for a long time.
She said there is a limit to how much colleges can charge students because many attend with financial aid, which will not pay if the tuition is too high.
She said more schools are going to have to look at other funding sources, such as grants and forming corporate sponsorships.
She said the Endowment Association is becoming more important. She said for endowment to grow, the community must understand the value of a community college and trust that the money will be used wisely.
She said one of the first jobs the next FSCC president and trustees should do is develop a new strategic plan, to replace the existing plan that is near the end of its years. The plan is important because it helps everyone decide where the school wants to be in the future. She said every college needs to focus on their strategic plan and assessment data to help everyone makes good decisions.
Personal background
Harris has been married for 40 years. Her husband, who was unable to come to Fort Scott with her, is a community college graduate who became a physical therapy assistant in Chanute. Each of their three children attended community colleges before transferring to four-year universities.
"I grew up in Denver, and I like visiting, I don't like living there," Harris said. "I can take it about five days, then I need to get out. I like small towns."
She said she likes the attitude of a small town, where instead of "somebody ought to," in a small town, people need to get involved, otherwise, things won't get done.
She currently is involved in Project 17, an economic development program that includes Bourbon County in its 17-county region. She is a former Rotary member, and a current member of the chamber of commerce and the Independence Community Chest. She said she has been involved in every leadership class held in each of the communities where she has lived.
During the question and answer period Thursday, she was asked about her first impression of Fort Scott. As a history buff, she said she likes the community's downtown district and the Fort.
She said when she moved to Independence, she immediately felt like she was part of the community.
"I get that impression from Fort Scott, too, that it's a welcoming community," Harris said. "That if you're willing to be part of it, it's willing to welcome you. And that's exactly what I'm looking for. I want a community that values its history, values its own town and wants people to get involved."
She said she feels like she has been working towards the college president position her entire life.
"I think throughout the years I've worked with some good leaders and I've learned a lot from a lot of different styles, but I think I've learned enough at this point in time that I know what my style is," Harris said. "And I know that I'm in a position where I really want to take that next step. I'm know that I'm really good at working with key people and getting everybody on the same page to move forward. I want to take advantage of that opportunity.
"Fort Scott is the kind of community and college that I think I would be really comfortable at," Harris said.
The FSCC Board of Trustees narrowed the field of applicants from 20 to four. After the last applicant's visit, the board will schedule a meeting to chose the next FSCC president.
The position was opened after Clayton Tatro resigned in July. Dick Hedges has been serving as the interim president.