August 25, 2025
The Kansas Board of Regents will release official enrollment numbers for the Fall 2025 after concurrent high school enrollment closes later in September.
On Monday, August 25, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) will welcome 2,794 new credit students and 8,514 returning credit students to JCCC for the 2025-2026 academic year. Monday, August 25, is the first day of classes.
This academic year brings several new initiatives and projects, including welcoming new leadership to campus. Last spring, the JCCC Board of Trustees selected Dr. Tony Miksa as the College’s 7th president. Dr. Miksa was selected after a nationwide search by JCCC’s Board of Trustees, Cabinet, and Presidential Search Committee. Miksa assumed the position at JCCC in July and is looking forward to his first year in the new role and to students’ return to campus.
“As we begin a new academic year, I’m inspired by the incredible potential of every student at JCCC,” said Dr. Tony Miksa, JCCC President. “In the year ahead, I look forward to celebrating their accomplishments and, together with our dedicated faculty and staff, supporting the ways they’ll transform lives and strengthen communities."
New This Year at JCCC
Last fall, JCCC launched the initial updates in a full academic redesign to improve the student experience and student outcomes. This fall, JCCC will implement another piece of that plan called “Areas of Interest” for all JCCC students.
Areas of Interest is part of a national framework called Guided Pathways, which was developed at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, and helps students who may not have an exact career path in mind explore different possibilities within a broader area of study. Areas of Interest organizes JCCC’s degree and certificate programs by grouping similar academic and career fields so it’s easier for students to explore options, then choose a major and create an academic plan, all while making progress toward a college degree.
Areas of interest at JCCC include:
- Arts and Design
- Business, Hospitality, and Professional Services
- Communication and Language
- Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Healthcare, Public Safety, and Wellness
- Industrial Trades and Transportation
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
- And Exploratory (for undecided students)
With Guided Pathways, JCCC helps students:
- Clarify their academic path
- Enter their academic path
- Stay on their academic path
- And ensure learning
“Guided Pathways allows students to enter a broad Area of Interest if they’re unsure about their major,” said Shelli Allen, Vice President of Student Success and Engagement, JCCC. “Because academic programs are grouped by similarities, students can easily switch majors within the same Area of Interest. This approach supports intentional decision-making, helping students explore options without feeling stuck. Ultimately, Guided Pathways helps students to find their path and ensure students are learning what they need to know to successfully transition into the workforce or to a selected transfer program.”
Additionally, this year, JCCC leaders will continue work on the next Facilities Master Plan (FMP), a 10-year project to ensure JCCC’s facilities align with students’ needs and support their success. The JCCC Board approved a new 2025-2035 FMP in June, which will help JCCC continue its mission to inspire learning to transform lives and strengthen communities. Some of the new plan goals include:
- Exploring the addition of spaces on JCCC’s main campus for Science, Healthcare, and Public Safety programs to help meet workforce demand
- Expanding Career & Technical Education Facilities to help meet workforce demand
- Strengthening wayfinding for pedestrians and drivers
- Improving support spaces for athletics
- Addressing aging campus infrastructure
Additional information about the 2025-2035 FMP will be posted to JCCC’s website as it becomes available.
New Student Senate Leadership
Oliver Gonzales is JCCC’s Student Senate president for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Gonzales is a dual degree student, meaning he is technically a high school junior (he’s also enrolled at Blue Valley Northwest), but will spend his last two years of high school attending classes full-time at JCCC. When Gonzalez graduates from high school in two years, he will graduate from JCCC with an associate degree at the same time. He served on the Student Senate last year and is excited to take on additional responsibility as Senate President.
The Student Senate at JCCC is the collective voice and governance representation of the student body. Gonzales and the rest of the JCCC Student Senate will address key student issues this semester, including support projects to enhance the JCCC student experience, improve communication with student leadership, and directly address student needs. In September, the Student Senate will host a forum for students to meet candidates running for the JCCC Board of Trustees in November.
The first Student Senate meeting of the 2025-2026 school year is on Monday, September 8, at 1 p.m. The Student Senate meets for its General Assembly on Mondays at 1 p.m. during the school year. All students are welcome to attend and hear committee reports, executive board reports, new/old business, and participate in the open forum.
Learn more at jccc.edu/studentsenate.
Welcome Weeks
New student New student orientation and Welcome Weeks are exciting times for the JCCC community. From August 25 through September 5, JCCC Student Life and Leadership will host Welcome Weeks events for all students. These events help introduce students to academic resources, campus life, and opportunities to grow through JCCC.
Welcome Weeks highlights include:
There's No Place Like JCCC
Mon. Aug. 25 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Student Center (SC)
Welcome to JCCC—there’s no place like it! Kick off your first day with fun photo ops, tasty snacks, awesome giveaways, and friendly faces ready to help you feel right at home.
Donuts & Directions
Mon. Aug. 25 and Tue. Aug. 26 | 5 p.m. while supplies last | COM & GEB by north Student Center parking lot AND between CLB & SCI by Galileo parking garage
Need help finding your class? Swing by and see us for free donuts, wayfinding assistance, and ways to get connected at JCCC!
The First-Week Feelings Booth
Thu. Aug. 28 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | COM Plaza & Fountain Square
Feeling overwhelmed, lost, or unsure where to start? Stop by The First-Week Feelings Booth for support, resources, and real talk about navigating your first days. We’re here to help you feel grounded and connected.
Clubs on the Lawn
Fri. Aug. 29 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | COM Plaza & Fountain Square
Clubs on the Lawn is your chance to explore student life in a fun, relaxed setting. Meet club members, play yard games like cornhole and giant Jenga, and find your place at JCCC. Come for the fun, stay for the connections!
Thrift & Thrive Market
Wed. Sep. 3 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | COM Dining Area
Furnish your new digs with donated items from the JCCC community.
Cav Kickoff
Wed. Sep. 10 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | COM Plaza & Fountain Square
JCCC’s favorite semester tradition has arrived! Spend your day discovering the opportunities that will set you up for a fun and successful Cavalier experience. Browse our beautiful COM Plaza and find enriching clubs and organizations where you can make friends for life. Get to know our academic departments and visit with 4-year university representatives. Enjoy the yummy food, team building activities, and giveaways—the best way to get your semester started!
Visit JCCC’s website for a complete list of Welcome Weeks activities. Any media personnel interested in attending one of JCCC’s Welcome Weeks events should contact Emma Swinney at eswinne1@jccc.edu.
CONTACT:
Emma Swinney
Public and Media Relations Coordinator
eswinne1@jccc.edu
913-469-8500, ext. 4949
Chris Gray
VP, Strategic Communications & Marketing
chrisgray@jccc.edu
913-469-8500, ext. 7623
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