A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Fernando Figueroa: A year-end message; plan to join in the community conversations coming in 2018


Our college has completed a great fall semester which has moved the needle on our Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) and Diversity plans, leading to student engagement and success.

This month we celebrated outstanding students at the Dean’s Social, expanded our transfer agreement with Mount St. Joseph University, and held the EMT graduation. Next week we will celebrate Gateway’s nurse pinning. This is a great way to end 2017! 

Last week, I presented to the Gateway Board of Directors an update on Gateway’s Regional Strategy with the outside forces, such as state budget challenges and the remaking of the educational landscape, in mind.  

The next actions in our plan include conducting convenings with community, educational and business partners to determine how we can utilize current resources and collaborate to create pathways that will position our students to find personal success that furthers our thriving region. These partnerships will inform the programming and facilities plans. 

I hope you will engage with us in these convenings as we discuss how we may, as a community, come together to serve students, develop the workforce, and grow our region.

Gateway’s Regional Strategy is not linear, but dynamic. It is an ongoing process of assessing, collaborating and acting. Gateway is the community’s college because we’re constantly listening and adapting to better serve our students and community. 

We will know we are successful when we have helped to solidify the talent pipeline from middle school to employment with sustainable wages which contribute to the economic vitality of the region. As we move into 2018, we take on the next stage of this work in an ever-changing local and world economy. We are ready to meet these challenges. 

I hope the next month provides opportunity to enjoy family and friends and experience all this season offers. Thank you for all you have contributed to our college and community in 2017.

Fernando Figueroa is president of Gateway Community & Technical College.  


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