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BCC will modify Cyber-Security Certificate proposal
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Barton Community College will modify its plan to create a cyber-security program now that the Kansas Board of Regents has asked for revisions to Barton’s proposal.

Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons was asked about his Tuesday at the BCC Board of Trustees study session. The college still plans to have some sort of program, but it won’t be the one discussed and approved by the board in November.

Barton’s proposal was to offer a 36 credit-hour program of study for earning a Cyber-security Certificate. It would take two semesters with courses offered through BartOnline. Upon successful completion of the program, students would be eligible for Network +, Security +, and Linux + industry credentials. 

After it was approved at all levels internally, including approval by the board of trustees, the next step was to submit the proposal to the Kansas Board of Regents. Simmons told trustees the college’s plans have changed due to KBOR feedback.

“We’re going to move a different direction with that,” she told the board. “We’re modifying it.”

The administration plans to resubmit the request as a modified program. 

“As with any program application, KBOR staff initiated their process with an internal review of the application,” Simmons later told the Great Bend Tribune. “In response, we were told to submit a modified application to offer the Cyber-Security Certificate instead of a new program application. The team is working on the revisions and, ultimately, the process will likely accelerate our opportunity to offer the certificate program.” 

Dean of Workforce Training & Community Education Kathy Kottas commented on the feedback they received from the Kansas Board of Regents. “They gave us good guidance and a good direction to go that I think will be beneficial,” she said.


Meeting at a glance


Here’s a quick look at the Barton Community College Board of Trustees study session and business meeting on Tuesday.

At the study session:

• Board Chairman Mike Johnson discussed the trustees’ self-evaluation and reviewed the Policy Governance Manual. The BCC Board of Trustees adopted the Carver Policy Governance model on May 16, 1996. Under this model, the board’s decisions predominantly should be policy decisions.

• Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman provided a list of items he has approved in the past month. These include contracts and partnership for clinical training:

* Agreements/Contracts

- EAB Global Inc; Washington, DC – Strategic Advisory Services

* Grants

- Kansas State University; Subaward Agreement, Modification #3

* Military Academics, Technical Education and Outreach Programs

- National Partnership for Environmental Technical Education (NPETE); Hazardous Waste Worker Training (HWWT) 2nd Year Grant Funding amendment

* Military On-Site Training (MOST)

- 75th Field Artillery BDE, Ft. Sill, OK – 5 courses for Soldier Training

* Barton OSHA Training Institute Education Center

- Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, KS – HOST site

* Hazardous Materials/Emergency Management

- National Partnership for Environmental Technical Education (NPETE); HazMat Disaster TrainingDisaster Site Worker (HDTP_DSW) training at Ft. Pierce, FL

* Nursing (sites for clinicals)

- Valley Hope of Wichita

* Medical Assistant

- Central Care Cancer Center; Salina

- Pawnee Valley Medical Associates, Larned

- Healthy Choice Clinic, Larned

* State-Wide Articulation Agreements (Cluster – Pathway – Barton Programs)

- Hospitality and Tourism – Restaurant & Event Management – Dietary Manager Certificate

- Human Services – Early Childhood Development & Services – Early Childhood Degree

- Human Services – Family, Community and Consumer Services – Early Childhood Degree

- Manufacturing – Manufacturing – Welding Certificate

At the business meeting:

• Personnel changes were approved:

- James Chestnut was hired at a general facility management worker on the Barton County campus.

- Maria Labal Marshall was hired as a part-time student services specialist on the Fort Riley Campus.

- Director of Public Relations & Marketing Brandon Steinert was named Chief Communications Officer. This is a new contract position at the Barton County campus.