One community college and its new president seek to continue the success of its students, along with the bottom line.

Community colleges do not get the same public recognition that traditional four-year colleges get. But without the community college system, many could not continue their education for a variety of reasons. Of the nearly 1,200 such schools in the US, New Jersey’s Mercer County Community College is one of the most accomplished, and that extends beyond the school’s $50 million in revenue. According to Patricia Donohue, president, MCCC’s success rests squarely on the success of its students.

Patricia Donohue, President

“We do periodic focus groups that include various employers, asking for their input. Many companies are represented on the college’s advisory committees, which help us shape the curriculum,” said Donohue. “And employer representatives come in to talk about the programs that train students for different jobs.”

It is important that Mercer County’s students are getting the right training, not only for the image of the school but for the benefit of the community. Of the 9,000 students who enroll in the fall, 85% to 90% are from the county itself. Nursing and health sciences are one of the most popular fields of study, which is crucial since the entire country is facing a nursing shortage. Overall, MCCC’s courses prepare thousands of people in Mercer County to be a positive part of the community they live in. “We’re creating the future, not only for these students but for the employers in the area by creating their workforce. So we need to stay in line with the economic development in the area,” Donohue said.

Without Mercer County Community College as an option, many of these students would not have a chance to attend college at all. Some students make the choice to attend MCCC because it’s the college in their back yard, while for others it is the best all-around choice for them. And as a result of the quality of the school’s programs, 40% of Mercer’s 2006 graduates sought to transfer to a four-year school.

“Compared to all of the other local colleges, which are four-year institutions, our cost is significantly less,” Donohue said. “Even then, many need scholarships and financial aid to come here. We work very hard to help our students gain all the financial aid they’re eligible for.”

Staying on the cutting edge of the latest subject-matter advancements is one of the biggest challenges Donohue faces in planning for the future. Schools must keep up with the newest tools and techniques in response to the changing job market. One way of doing this is by forging financial arrangements with area businesses.

“One of my new initiatives is helping the foundation board expand their outreach for partners to help us build the facilities and purchase equipment we need,” said Donohue, noting that the school recently received a donation from Johnson & Johnson that allowed it to equip a laboratory and start a new program.

MCCC also focuses on making its faculty the envy of other New Jersey county schools. It has retained some of its most accomplished faculty members, something Donohue says helps to recruit younger faculty.

“We’ve been able to recruit highly qualified candidates, and our track record of success with students makes this a desirable place to teach,” Donohue said. “We have a great facility here, but the faculty are our greatest resource and a great selling point.”

The school also has an active lecture series that involves inviting faculty from other schools or field experts in for a lecture or program. Topics covered include criminal justice and health sciences. “In our area, many new firms are either growing or starting up related to biotech and pharmaceuticals, so that’s a hot topic,” said Donohue.

Although she has only been with MCCC since early 2007, Donohue’s experience will no doubt help Mercer deal with all the obstacles facing the school. From uncertainty in government funding levels to creating a positive culture on campus, higher education is always faced with public scrutiny. And these are some of the things that she and her board are most concerned with.

Where funding is concerned, the school is at a disadvantage because it has to plan the expenditure budget before knowing what the state and county fund allocations will be. MCCC has also been faced with a cut in state funds over the last few years, cuts that are only being slowly restored.

“We dance delicately around this during the year, and we keep informed about how those budget preparations are proceeding,” Donohue said, noting that she has to make a recommendation to the board about tuition rates before final numbers are in. “We were fortunate when the state was cutting funds because Mercer County and our county executive and freeholders provided an increase to keep the college’s budget intact.”

Providing an inviting campus has also been a priority to Donohue and her team, and the school has seen a steady increase in enrollment over the past few years. Mercer has invested in sports and art programs and runs a campus radio station that the school is looking to expand. As a continuation of its commitment to the community, the school took over the leadership and educational programming for the Mercer County Fire Academy, and the county’s police academy is now located on the MCCC campus.

“We are about learning and student success, and it takes more than supporting the students when they learn, and attracting them to the college,” said Donohue. “We need them to be an active part of a college community, not just a student who drops into class and leaves the campus. That is how we build leaders and responsible citizens.”