We found on-line this Lakeland Community College Strategic Plan for the years 1993 – 1997.  It is interesting that this is 26 years ago, but look who is on the Board of Trustees.

Strategic Plan He who shall not be named on LCC Board

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Sandra A. Swain, Chair
W. R. Moyer, Vice Chair
Clarence A. Bortz
Jerry C. Cirino
Dale H. Fellows
Kip L. Molenaar
Patricia ODonnell
Bill R. Sanford
Phillip W. Shrout
PRESIDENT:
Ralph R. Doty, Ed.D

Here are some excerpts from the 26 year old plan that caught our attention:

“The intent of the plan is to establish a five year guide for the development of annual goals and objectives. The document contained herein is an update to Lakeland’s first formal strategic plan; this 1993-97 Strategic Plan now replaces the 1990-95 Plan.”

“Our External Environment: Demographically, our environment has not changed substantially. The dramatic drop in high school graduates finally hit bottom and should even out for awhile. The size and socio-economic status of the population we serve should continue to see slight, marginal growth.”

“There will continue to be a prevalence of single parent families and continued need for dual wage earner families. However, the population is aging and there are additional responsibilities competing for attention and resources. More families are faced with caring for elderly parents in addition to raising children.” (emphasis added by LFC)

(LFC Comments: So how did Lakeland deal with the aging population?  Answer: They doubled local property tax revenues from 2007 to 2017.  In our opinion, absolutely, no regard for the seniors of Lake County.)

“While the new Campus Resource Center will provide the space needed for Student Services to support the needs of over 9,000 students, there is limited classroom and
laboratory space, particularly for our highly successful and respected health science programs.”

(LFC Comments: Please note that they were gleefully supporting the needs of over 9,000 students.  So how many students are enrolled in the 2019 Spring semester?  According to their own published data —–  read them and weep —– 6,176!!!!
For those keeping score, that is a drop of at least 2,824  (31.3%) of full time students.

So what is the current administration’s answer to this  precipitous plunge in the number of students?  Why let’s tax the seniors some more….they must be punished for our inadequacies!  We need a $68.5 million, state of the art, health technology building, and by golly, they must pay for a dormitory, for at most 500 students, so that we can get further away from our mission statement of being a local community, commuter college.

What will the approach be of the new appointees that “He who shall not be named” has placed on the Board of Trustees?  Here’s hoping that they are up to the task of righting this ship that has obviously taken a couple of hits below the water line.)

Categories: Lake, Lakeland Community College, Uncategorized

Tags: FT