A document that outlines the strengths and goals of Barton Community College is completed or near completion, and awaits final approval from the BCC Board of Trustees this week. The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Portfolio for 2011 will then be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission, the entity responsible for Barton’s accreditation.

According to the report, the college has more than 4,200 students. With 77 percent of the students enrolled part-time, the full-time equivalency (FTE) is almost 3,000 students. There are 68 full-time faculty, 128 part-time faculty, 196 full-time staff and 12 administrators. Almost 90 percent of Barton faculty hold a master’s degree or higher educational credential.

The annual operating budget for 2010-2011 is $26,066,367. The college is close to its goal of receiving a third of its funding from tuition, a third from local taxpayers and a third from state funding and other sources. Last year, fiscal support of the college was 33 percent tuition and fees, 32 percent local taxes, 29 percent state appropriations, and 6 percent miscellaneous operational revenue.

The report mentions the $5.8 million renovation/expansion that started in 2008 and was completed in 2010. It included the Learning Center (library), Nursing classroom and lab space, Automotive classroom and lab space, Case New Holland lab space, and Agriculture classroom. It also included renovating and expanding some student services.

At Barton, students can earn an Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree, Associate of General Studies degree or Associate of Applied Science degree; they can enroll in certificate programs, basic skills remediation, dual/concurrent enrollment, noncredit training and continuing education.

BCC consistently plays a role is leadership for higher education in Kansas. One example cited in the AQIP report was the work of the 2010 Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) Transfer and Articulation Task Force. Barton provided one of two community college faculty representatives for the statewide task force. It presented recommendations to KBOR, which were approved at its June 2011 meeting. Through the work, Kansas plans to follow the national trend that ensures a seamless transition between two- and four-year institutions. General education courses should readily transfer to four-year schools.