Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

Written 8/24/06

Story by Julie Haas

Survey results show residents believe JCCC is carrying out its mission

            OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Of those respondents to a survey regarding county residents’ perception of Johnson County Community College who were familiar with the college, over 90 percent agreed that the seven functions detailed in the college’s mission statement are important and that the college performs those functions well.           

 Those seven functions are degree/transfer preparation; student development/student services; career education; general education; continuing education, community services and cultural education; developmental education; and economic development.

The greatest percentage of respondents who were familiar with the college were aware of the degree and transfer preparation function, while fewer were aware that the college engages in cooperative partnerships and economic development.

Sixty-three percent of those respondents who were aware of the college or members of their households had enrolled in a credit class on the college’s main campus, while 50 percent had attended a performance in the Carlsen Center. Twenty-nine percent plan to enroll in classes at JCCC within the next five years, while 28 percent indicated other members of their household plan to enroll. Nearly 90 percent agreed that JCCC is a good place to enroll their children.

More than three-fourths of the respondents who were familiar with JCCC also agreed that control of the college should remain in the hands of a locally elected board of trustees. Less than half agreed JCCC should expand the number of off-campus locations, and only one-tenth agreed JCCC should increase the current cost per credit hour ($63 a credit hour for county residents).

Most of those respondents who are not familiar with JCCC said that no one in their household had an interest in taking classes.

 The purpose of the community perception/image survey is to answer questions about various facets of the college’s mission statement – how aware respondents are of the components of the college mission, how important respondents felt each of the mission statements are, and how well they feel the college is accomplishing them. Information concerning the educational interests and achievements of county residents was also collected.

The study was conducted during summer 2005; 584 individuals who considered themselves as least somewhat familiar with the college were interviewed. Short telephone interviews were also conducted with 420 individuals who indicated they were not familiar with the college.

JCCC’s office of Institutional Research periodically surveys a stratified random sample of county adults to assess their perceptions and opinions of the college. The last such study was conducted during fall 1998.

“The results of this most recent JCCC community image/perception survey reveal that Johnson County residents are aware of the JCCC mission, believe strongly that the college is doing what it should be doing, and overwhelmingly indicate that the college is doing those things well,” said Jeff Seybert, director, Research, Evaluation and Instructional Development, at JCCC.