Highland Community College
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| Highland Community College | |
|---|---|
| Name | Highland Community College |
| Established | 1960s |
| Type | Public community college |
| City | Highland |
| State | Kansas |
| Country | United States |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Mascot | Scottie |
Highland Community College Highland Community College is a public two-year institution located in northeastern Kansas, serving regional students with vocational, transfer, and continuing education programs. The college maintains partnerships with statewide consortia, local businesses, and public agencies to support workforce development, technical training, and liberal arts pathways. Its mission emphasizes access, affordability, and community engagement across rural counties and neighboring municipalities.
History
The college traces roots to early 20th-century regional efforts to expand postsecondary opportunities influenced by movements such as the Land-grant university initiatives and the expansion following the GI Bill. Local civic leaders, agricultural associations, and school districts in Doniphan County championed a junior college model similar to institutions across Kansas and the Midwestern United States, aligning with statewide reforms like the Kansas Board of Regents reorganization. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the institution adapted curricula in response to federal workforce policies, shifts in Higher Education Act of 1965 funding, and regional economic drivers such as manufacturing and agriculture. In later decades the college pursued accreditation through regional associations comparable to the Higher Learning Commission, established articulation agreements with public universities including University of Kansas and Kansas State University, and expanded allied health and technical programs paralleling trends seen at community colleges nationwide.
Campus
The rural campus occupies acreage near Highland, surrounded by agricultural townships and connected by state highways that link to nearby cities like Kansas City, Kansas, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas. Facilities combine instructional buildings, labs for allied health and industrial trades, student services centers, and athletic fields. Campus development has mirrored capital planning observed at institutions funded by state appropriations and private philanthropy, with investments in technology labs, nursing simulation suites similar to those at Johnson County Community College, and partnerships with regional hospitals such as University of Kansas Health System affiliates. The campus also hosts community events, workforce training programs with local manufacturers, and continuing education offerings aligned with regional employers like AMERICAN manufacturers and agricultural cooperatives.
Academics
Academic programs include associate of arts and associate of applied science degrees, certificate programs in nursing, automotive technology, welding, information technology, and business administration. The college facilitates transfer pathways to public universities including Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and regional private colleges, using course equivalency conventions akin to statewide transfer agreements. Workforce-oriented curricula align with industry standards set by professional bodies such as the American Welding Society and nursing accreditors comparable to the National League for Nursing. The institution offers continuing education and adult basic education, including GED preparation and workforce retraining tied to regional labor markets influenced by employers like Smithfield Foods and Cargill operations in the Midwest.
Student life
Student organizations span academic clubs, honor societies, and service groups modeled after chapters found in the Phi Theta Kappa network and vocational associations. Cultural and performing arts programming brings touring ensembles and regional artists similar to engagements at community arts centers across Kansas City. Student support services include advising, tutoring, disability accommodations, and career placement assistance that coordinate with local chambers of commerce such as the Highland Chamber of Commerce and workforce boards. Residential life is limited compared to four-year universities but may include housing options and partnerships facilitating commuter student engagement with campus activities, intramural recreation, and civic service projects with organizations like American Red Cross local chapters.
Athletics
Athletic programs compete regionally in sports such as basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball, following conference alignments comparable to those in the National Junior College Athletic Association and regional athletic conferences. Teams draw students from surrounding counties and maintain rivalries with nearby community colleges similar to matchups against institutions in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. Facilities include gymnasia, practice fields, and weight training centers configured to meet NJCAA standards, with student-athletes often transferring to four-year college programs at institutions like Drury University and Central Methodist University.
Administration and governance
Governance follows a board-based model with a locally elected or appointed board of trustees overseeing policy, budgets, and presidential appointments similar to other Kansas community colleges under the broader oversight and coordination of the Kansas Board of Regents system. Administrative units include academic affairs, student services, finance and operations, and workforce development, staffed by professionals with experience at peer institutions such as Butler Community College and Garden City Community College. Financial planning relies on a mix of state allocations, tuition revenue, grants from federal programs like the Pell Grant initiative, and private fundraising through college foundations.
Notable people
Alumni and faculty have gone on to roles in state government, healthcare, education, and business, with some transferring to or collaborating with institutions like University of Missouri and Kansas State University. Graduates have become professionals in nursing, agriculture extension services tied to Kansas State University Research and Extension, and regional economic development organizations. Faculty include practitioners with backgrounds in regional hospitals such as Saint Luke's Health System and industry leaders from manufacturing firms prevalent in the Midwest. The college’s athletic alumni have continued competition at four-year programs including Emporia State Hornets and NCAA Division II teams.