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Chase Smith

Staff Writer

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College inaugurated its fall semester Monday, reporting steady enrollment numbers.

Calling the system the area’s “best kept secret,” newly appointed Middlesboro campus director Vic Adams says there is still time to enroll.

Adams also serves as vice president of work force solutions. He holds a masters degree in education from Lincoln Memorial University and received his doctorate at Mississippi State University.

“Southeast has campuses in Cumberland, Harlan, Pineville, Whitesburg and Middlesboro, which has the largest number of students enrolled.”

According to Adams the current number of students at the Middlesboro campus is approximately 900.”

So far enrollment is about the same as it was last semester with approximately 3,000 students, Adams said. He added that this number is expected to jump up to 6,000 around the end of October. The increase in numbers is due to Project Lead the Way and other technical programs that begin later in the semester.

Project Lead the Way is a partnership with the University of Kentucky allowing high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits before they graduate.

Some of the high school students in this program graduate high school with 20 to 25 college credits, Adams adds.

“This program is very good for our community, especially with the edition of the University of Pikeville added to the Middlesboro campus,” Adams said. “With (UPike), students are able to get a bachelors degree in business administration with emphasis in health care administration without ever leaving the campus.”

Adams went on to say, “We are working on getting enough students to get a program that allows students to also get their bachelors in criminal justice without ever leaving this campus.”

The college is also now offering a new program in funeral services, the first of its kind approved in Kentucky, at the Cumberland campus.

SKCTC also offers Accelerating Opportunities, a program for under skilled adults who want a career path that gets them to work quickly. Program options include welding, heavy equipment operation and others. Students can earn a certificate in these programs in under a semester. They also have the option to stay and continue if they choose to, Adams adds.

This program starts later in the semester than regular classes so there is still time to enroll.

Many people begin college and for various reasons then decide to take time off. Adams says the college has advisers to help anyone who wants to know how many credits they lack for an associate’s, bachelor’s, or technical degree. He added that many students don’t realize how few credits they need to earn a degree.

According to the SKCTC website, the last day to enroll for the fall semester is Friday.

For those who think they cannot afford to further their education, Adams says there are many scholarships and grants available for anyone interested.

One in particular is the newly established Coal County Scholarship. Financial aid is also available and Adams urges anyone interested to come in and talk to their staff so they can “get you on the right track to your future.”

Chase Smith is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted at ksmith@heartlandpublications.com or 606.248.1010 ext. 204.