COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Butler Celebrates National Community College Month
Dr. Kimberly Krull President
Dr. Thomas Nevill Vice
President of Academics
Bill Rinkenbaugh Vice President of Student Services
Tom Borrego
Vice President of Advancement/ Special Asst. to the President
Kent Williams
Vice President of Finance
Bill Young Vice President of Digital Transformation / CIO
Dr. Jessica Ohman Associate Vice President of Student Services
Dr. Esam Mohammad
Associate Vice President of Research & Institutional Effectiveness
Shelley Stultz Associate
Vice President of Human Resources
Dr. Terry Sader
Professor and President, Butler Community College Education Association
Kelly Snedden Director
In order to improve awareness and understanding of the economic and academic value of community colleges, the Association of Community College Trustees has declared April as National Community College Month.
“We see National Community College Month as an opportunity to demonstrate community colleges as the first choice and first step into higher education for students. Community colleges across Kansas are drivers of workforce training and economic development locally and for the entire state,” said Dr. Kim Krull, Butler Community College President.
As Butler County’s largest employer, the College’s economic impact for the county is more than $46 million.
As a community college, Butler Community College provides:
• An affordable education and on-ramp to higher level degrees for students from all economic backgrounds;
• Industry-recognized workforce training in a variety of career fields such as Nursing, Fire Science, Welding, and Auto Technology;
• Community and stakeholder opportunities for cultural growth, life enrichment, recreation, and athletic engagement We
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OUR MISSION
Butler Community College inspires and prepares students for lifetime success through inclusive, innovative, affordable, quality education while advancing community vitality.
News from Butler Community College | Spring 2023
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KICA
Agreement Opens Pathway to Private Higher Education
Last September the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees (KACCT) and the Kansas Independent Colleges Association (KICA) announced a groundbreaking agreement that will pave the way for students to seamlessly transfer from any Kansas community college to any Kansas nonprofit college or university.
Under the agreement, a student receiving an Associate of Arts OR Science degree from any community college in Kansas will be seen as having fulfilled the general education requirements of any independent institution in the state, enrolling them as a junior at their new school. This will allow more students to graduate on time with less cost.
“Across the country, debate rages on about college access and affordability,” said KICA President Matthew Lindsey. “We believe KICA and KACCT have developed a forward-thinking and sustainable resource to demonstrate to Kansans that we are leading the way.”
KACCT Executive Director Heather Morgan praised the partnership, stating she appreciates “the student opportunities [the agreement] provides and the potential for additional partnerships to benefit Kansas students. This transfer agreement is a key link to ongoing student success and advancement.”
Success Highlights Winter and Spring Sports Seasons
Over the winter our Grizzly basketball teams had very successful seasons, with the women’s team reaching the semifinals of the Region VI tournament. The men’s team won the Region VI tournament, earning a spot in the NJCAA Tournament as the #10 seed. They defeated #23 seed Roane State Community College in the first round 85-66, but fell in the second round to the defending NJCAA tournament champions Northwest Florida State College 71-59.
The spring sports season is now in full swing, with Rose Hill’s Andrew Leck earning All-America honors at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in March as a member of two relay teams. The Grizzly softball team is off to a strong start with a 35-10 record; the baseball team is currently holding a 28-18 record with two Butler County residents on the roster, pitchers Jake Shaults of Towanda and Dayton Pelfrey of Andover.
Homegrown Student Spotlights
Taya Reed, 24 — El Dorado
• What was your deciding factor in coming to Butler? I had heard great things about Butler from my sister, and I did research and found they had a great teaching program.
• What do you like most about being a Butler student? I like that as a stay at home mom I can do my schooling at home, online. It’s easy for me to do with my busy life.
• What’s been your experience with faculty and staff? The faculty and staff are always so friendly. I can access the resources I need from my laptop at home. When I think of people wanting to go to college I always recommend Butler!
Lauren Salyers, 19 — Rose Hill
• What was your deciding factor in coming to Butler? Lower cost, close proximity to home, great atmosphere in classes.
• What do you like most about being a Butler student? The smaller class sizes makes it easier to learn and you get to collaborate with your fellow students more than you would in a university size class.
• What’s been your experience with faculty and staff? Everyone is always kind and seem so eager to help me excel.
Gideon Luedeke, 19 — Augusta
• What was your deciding factor in coming to Butler? The location & price point of Butler worked out great. The degrees and courses given were also a major deciding factor! I’ve loved all of them so far.
• What do you like most about being a Butler student? I love the ability to express my own passions and work in different assignments. (As a digital media major, this is especially nice.)
• What’s been your experience with faculty and staff? I’ve had great success with the professors and any questions I’ve had are answered quickly and they’ve all been super helpful.
Community Colleges Every Day!
Tom Spiers, 67 – Benton
• What was your deciding factor in coming to Butler? Location and the new culinary arts building (Redler Institute).
• What do you like most about being a Butler student? The professionalism of the instructors and since I’m a Golden Grizzly, the acceptance from the younger students. I have not met a rude one yet.
• What’s been your experience with faculty and staff? The faculty at the school is top notch. Everyone is extremely professional and when you make a mistake they spend one on one time with you and you do it again to get it right.
BE A GOLDEN GRIZZLY!
Anyone 60 years of age or older from Butler, Chase, Greenwood, Marion and Morris Counties can receive a college identification card to be a “Golden Grizzly.” This allows tuition waivers (fees not included) for all Butler credit courses on a space available basis and FREE admission to regularly scheduled, nonathletic college-related activities as well as discounted tickets to athletic events.
Contact the registrar’s office to inquire about your Golden Grizzly ID! 316.322.3123 or registrar@butlercc.edu
901 S. Haverhill Road
El Dorado, KS 67042
Connect with us! @ButlerCC
Butler Community College Celebrates
Commencement 2023
NURSES PINNING
Thursday, May 11 at 7:00pm Performing Arts Center in El Dorado
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Friday, May 12 at 7:00pm BG Products Stadium in El Dorado
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Forrest Rhodes - Chair District 3, Position 3 forrest.rhodes@butlercc.edu
Mary Martha GoodVice Chair At Large mgood2@butlercc.edu
Linda JollySecretary / Treasurer District 1, Position 4 linda.jolly@butlercc.edu
Kim Braungardt District 2, Position 5 kim.braungardt@butlercc.edu
Dave Sherrer District 3, Position 6 david.sherrer@butlercc.edu
Shelby Smith District 2, Position 2 shelby.smith@butlercc.edu
Julie Winslow District 1, Position 1 julie.winslow@butlercc.edu
Butler County Receives Work Ready County Designation
In March, ACT officially designated Butler County as a “Work Ready County,” one of only six certified communities in the state. Being named a Work Ready County is the result of a collaboration between the business sector, educational partners, and economic development teams. These groups work together to address skill gaps by listening to employer needs and ensuring information is shared in the classroom. They also utilize the ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) as a means of obtaining a higher quality workforce. When a county becomes “Work Ready” it increases the interest of businesses who may be looking to move to our county, which can in turn help build our local economy. The designation shows Butler County has the necessary infrastructure for successful development should a company choose to set down roots in the community.
Aletra Chaney-Profit, Butler’s director of career services, was part of the task force that worked to attain the designation. “We held lunch and learns to explain what we were trying to do and how it would positively impact our communities,” she said. “We traveled to city council meetings, spoke to high schools and partnered with the State of Kansas to offer NCRCs to high schoolers. The NCRC does not assess college readiness like [the ACT test], but it does assess whether someone is ready to go to work and be successful.”
