September 9, 2026
This week, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) welcomes new and returning credit students to campus as classes begin for the 2026-2027 academic year.
"As we begin another academic year, we at JCCC remain focused on helping every student find a path to success," said Dr. Tony Miksa, JCCC President. "Whether they are working toward a degree or certificate, preparing to transfer to a 4-year college, or exploring future career opportunities, JCCC is committed to providing the support, resources, and high-quality educational experiences our students need to thrive."
This year, students will find expanded opportunities for academic exploration, enhanced support services designed to help them achieve their educational goals, and continued investment in campus facilities through JCCC's long-term Facilities Master Plan.
New in Academics
Starting this fall, the College will offer a new general education course, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Essentials,” to help students build the AI literacy needed for academic, professional, and everyday use. Students will explore the history of AI, learn how modern generative AI tools operate, and apply AI to real-world tasks. The course will also teach students to evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy and bias and discuss key ethical, legal, and privacy concerns surrounding these tools.
"Hawaii: The Biodiversity & Cultures of the Hawai'ian Islands" is a new study away program for Fall 2026, where students will bridge multidivisional interests in biology and culture/anthropology. The course requires weekly, one-hour meetings during the fall semester and concludes with a seven-day faculty-led trip to Waikiki, Oahu (Hawaii), December 15-22. Students will hike, snorkel, visit museums and sites, as well as participate in group discussions about biological and cultural diversity, conservation, the environment, colonization, and tourism, among other topics.
Another newer JCCC course offering is Introduction to Meteorology. Students study the atmosphere, weather, and climate and the processes that influence them. This 5-credit-hour course also includes a laboratory component for students to conduct hands-on experiments and analyze data from JCCC’s own weather station, located on the roof of the Billington Library on the main campus in Overland Park. Following a successful pilot in Fall 2025, the course joins JCCC's regular academic offerings this year.
Finally, JCCC’s Exploring Academic and Personal Success and Navigating College courses are designed to help students build essential life and academic skills for long-term college achievement. Starting in Fall 2026, both courses will be provided at no cost to incoming degree-seeking students who declare an Exploratory or Undecided area of interest to help support their transition. In the Academic and Personal Success course, students explore and develop strategies for goal setting, time management, academic communication, financial literacy, self-care practices, and more. In Navigating College, students learn about college systems like financial aid, course registration, and credit transfers, while developing academic and personal skills that lead to academic, personal, and career success.
Expanded Student Support
The College continues to align support services with the evolving needs of students. JCCC students benefit from a vast array of free resources, including personal, academic, and career counseling, access to JCCC’s Student Basic Needs Center, and free tutoring in all subjects through the Academic Resource Center (ARC).
This fall, the ARC will host a series of free, drop-in workshops for students to improve academic skills and explore learning strategies in math, reading, and writing. Similar to the concepts taught in JCCC's College Success courses, these workshops offer students a convenient way to develop effective study strategies and strengthen academic skills in a shorter, more flexible format. Reading and writing workshops will explore concepts like note-taking, research, paper organization, and more. The fall math workshops will focus on refreshing math concepts such as algebraic notation, functions, quadratic equations, and beyond to help students succeed in college-level math courses.
JCCC faculty demonstrate a deep commitment to student success through ongoing investment in professional development and teaching excellence. This year, all JCCC faculty will participate in professional enrichment training through the Association of College and University Educators on "Developing Students' Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills." The training will equip faculty across all disciplines with research-based strategies to strengthen student learning, engagement, and critical thinking.
By investing in innovative approaches to teaching and learning, JCCC continues to place students at the center of the educational experience. These efforts help ensure faculty are prepared to meet the evolving needs of students while creating engaging learning environments that support academic achievement, career readiness, and long-term success both inside and outside the classroom.
Looking Ahead
As JCCC enters the new academic year, the College is focused on expanding access, advancing student success, meeting workforce needs, and strengthening community partnerships throughout Johnson County.
In fall 2025, the JCCC Board of Trustees approved a new 10-year Facilities Master Plan for the main campus in Overland Park to ensure JCCC’s facilities continue to align with students’ needs and support their success.
In the first phase of the new Master Plan, JCCC will construct a new building on the main campus to support the growing number of students interested in healthcare-related programs and careers—and meet state and regional workforce demand. JCCC plans to break ground on the new building during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Other Facilities Master Plan goals include:
- Exploring the addition of spaces on the main campus to meet student and workforce demand in public safety and science programs
- Expanding Career & Technical Education Facilities to help meet student and workforce demand
- Strengthening wayfinding for pedestrians and drivers
- Improving support spaces for athletics
- Addressing aging campus infrastructure
Through new academic offerings, enhanced student support services, and strategic investments in campus facilities, JCCC remains committed to its mission of inspiring learning to transform lives and strengthen communities
More information about the Facilities Master Plan is available on the Facilities Master Plan web page.
CONTACT:
Emma Swinney
Public and Media Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 4949
Chris Gray
VP, Strategic Communications & Marketing
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 7623
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