SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett
Over the past month, my time has been divided into thirds: Topeka, highway, home/campus. It’s not the ideal work-life balance, and it requires a lot of the team at Seward County Community College. It also requires a lot of my family.
That’s why, at our most recent all-staff meeting, I shared the fact that my wife had called just before the session to remind me: get home at the agreed-upon time that night: We had a scheduled event at a local middle school. Because next year, we will be the parents of a middle-school student.
What? That can’t be, I told my wife — and my coworkers at SCCC. My daughters are still just starting out, in the first and third grades, at least in my mind. They’re not old enough to even look at a middle school through the window as we drive past it.
Despite those strong fatherly feelings, though, it is true: I am about to be a father of a middle school student. Time passes. Life changes. And, because this is how families work, I know it will be all right.
No, I am not deluded. Challenges and emergencies will no doubt be part of the story. But the unquestionable truth is, at the end of it all, we will stay strong and in a few years, we will look back at my feelings of dread with a smile.
That’s exactly the way I have always viewed higher education as it connects to us here at SCCC. We never know what “curveball” will come our way.
If you had followed me through the halls of the Kansas Legislature over the last month, you would have witnessed my passion for SCCC and the community college sector. There’s been a lot going on under the beautiful dome of the capitol. While those drives to Topeka are long and occur at all hours of the night, it is worth it as I feel strongly that it’s my responsibility to advocate for this college, which belongs to our community.
I am not the only one. Our elected officials Shannon Francis and Ron Ryckman and their Western Kansas peers are tirelessly at work for the people of their districts. Their advocacy for SCCC has been unwavering and we can’t thank them enough.
As we see at all levels of government these days, shakeups are happening. There’s closer scrutiny of every aspect of tax-funded departments, grants, and budgets. In Kansas, news outlets reported this week that Independence Community College and Coffeyville Community College will soon join in an affiliation.
As the other 17 community colleges watch this unfold, everyone has a lot of questions and concerns. Of course, we all want to see what’s best for our peers. As I told our team at the all-staff meeting, there are many ways to view the situation. Some are more positive than others.
What SCCC will do is continue on the path we set for ourselves three years ago, as we recovered from the effects of the pandemic. We evaluated our operations, we looked for efficiencies, we worked hard, and we worked as a team. And, within two years, we accomplished amazing things:
• We increased our enrollment by 34 percent
• We held our tax levy steady
• We expanded our campus footprint
• We launched an online platform that more than doubled participation
The Kansas Board of Regents and our elected officials are busily examining the community college system of the state, and looking for ways to save money. We understand that — we do the same thing here on campus. We are proud to serve our local community, our region, and the taxpayers who fund our operations. We don’t take the support lightly. And we aren’t afraid.
In terms of fiscal stability, SCCC is in great shape. We’ve trimmed expenses and processes all across campus, and we maintain a healthy-but-not-excessive cash balance. Our audits over the past few years have trended ever more positive. The entire campus has worked to work with real numbers and a high level of accountability. Our Board of Trustees keeps us focused on true stewardship of resources that ultimately belong to the community.
And, because this is how our community works, I know SCCC will be all right.
No, I am not deluded. Challenges and emergencies will no doubt be part of the story. But the unquestionable truth is, at the end of it all, we will stay strong and in a few years, we will look back at today’s feelings of dread with a smile.
People often remark that SCCC is like a family. During this time, that rings true more than ever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brad Bennett is the president of Seward County Community College and the father of two daughters who he fully expects to enroll as Saints ... someday. Not today. Today is all about middle school. You can reach him at
