http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/halhigdonp_3152.mp3
Hal Higdon is the president of Ozarks Technical Community College. He sees OTC as having a vitel role in the community. KSMU's Missy Shelton spoke with Hal Higdon about public service, the development of OTC and the college's involvement in the community.
Hal Higdon grew up in Alabama, earned a business degree and expected to find himself working at the family business. Instead, he ended up working for community colleges. Last year, he became president of Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield. He explains why he became interested in working at community colleges.
Higdon says his favorite part of working on a college campus is interacting with students. He describes his most rewarding experience in higher education so far.
Higdon says he believes being a good leader in higher education means maintaining close ties to students.
Now that he's a president of a community college, Higdon admits it's difficult to find the time to teach a course. But he's looking at possibly teaching a summer course or a business course online.
Higdon has taken the helm of Ozarks Technical Community College at a time when the college is feeling the pains of rapid growth. Conference rooms have been converted into classrooms to accomodate enrollment growth. There's a new campus in Christian County, known as the Richwood Valley Campus.
Until the last year or so, public universities and colleges have dealt with cuts in state funding as the state's economy slowed.
Higdon says a slower economy helps drive enrollment growth at community colleges like OTC.
And he says community colleges may have an easier time dealing with reduced state funding.
Higdon says a strong base also comes from community involvement. He serves on a number of community boards and encourages his staff to do the same. He says Springfield is a place that nurtures community leaders.
This and other programs in our Sense of Community Series are online at ksmu.org