FRIENDS and SUPPORTERS As with many moments in life, reflection provides clarity. Reflecting on the successes of the last year, we see that Metropolitan Community College’s reputation for excellence is reinforced as we continue to pursue innovative approaches with community partners who share our commitment to student success. We invite you to reflect with us on our work together, through the lenses of excellence, innovation and partnership. Excellence Excellence is achieved through hard work and dedication. At MCC it represents the commitment of faculty and staff to our diverse community of learners. We work together with community partners to provide responsive, quality educational opportunities to approximately 40,000 students annually throughout our four-county service area. Excellent programs and wraparound services that exude our philosophy of inclusion and accessibility have gained recognition at the national, state and community levels. For example, MCC’s SkillsUSA and Culinary Team Nebraska students took first place at the national level, the Nebraska Diplomats awarded the College its 2015 Power-In-the-Partnerships award, and MCC’s Re-Entry program was recognized by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for excellence in partnership. The articles within clearly show how MCC continues to exceed the expectations of the students and communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Randy Schmailzl MCC president
George Martin III Foundation President
Innovation
Partnerships
While innovation often extends from excellence, sometimes it is also serendipitous. As a friend and supporter of MCCF, you know our culture of exploration and improvement. Because we embrace challenges and explore the new and unknown, we happen upon technologies, teaching techniques and tools that are so effective we cement them into the fabric of the MCC way. We build on what works, growing in an organic way while incorporating best practices and industry expertise to continue learning from past achievements as we pursue new opportunities. MCCF’s Inspiring Innovation Mini‑Grants program is supporting visionary approaches, such as a new electrochemistry experiment project, that will enable students to practice real-world scientific analysis of lead contamination issues impacting our local community, while working with government and community organizations. Likewise, a new educational center featuring MCC at 72nd and Dodge streets, DO Space, is innovation realized (see page 27). We hope you will visit the digital library and explore the MCC learning opportunities and community events on the second floor.
At MCCF we foster excellence and innovation through collaboration. Listening and responding to students and community stakeholders is a priority at MCC. Involving community partners early in project discussions highlights points of connection and provides clarity for the evolving path ahead. Collaborations with alumni and community supporters have resulted in many exciting new opportunities for our students. For example, a new scholarship, “Treasures for Tanya,” established in honor of MCC alum Tanya Lanette Baker, provides support for single parents to pursue their nursing degrees. Similarly, MCC and a growing number of community partners are combining efforts to provide “no debt completion scholarships” through the College’s largest and most significant scholarship endeavor to date. The MCCF Matching Scholarship Fund will enable thousands of low-income students to attend MCC full time to complete career-focused degrees. Thank you for your partnership. These themes of excellence, innovation and partnership are reflected within the 2014-2015 Annual Report. More important, they are permanent fixtures that serve students of today and tomorrow. Thank you for your friendship and support – you are the foundation of student success. 1