On an unusually pleasant day in late July, nearly 30 individuals with a keen interest in higher education, more than half of them college presidents, convened in the ballroom atop Kansas City's Fairmont Hotel. They were guests of Ingram's Magazine and were there to participate in the third annual Ingram's Industry Outlook dedicated to higher education.

Co-chairing the event were Dean Hubbard, President of Northwest Missouri State University, and Beverley Byers-Pevitts, President of Park University. As always, it was a well-attended and spirited event.

Distinctions

As a first question, all the participants were asked to cite the distinguishing virtues of their respective institutions. The range of responses might have surprised anyone who believes that colleges are all pretty much alike. Indeed, even among colleges of a comparable class, there was wide divergence.

Merna Saliman of Maple Woods Community College succinctly defined the primary assets of her instititution as "access, quality, affordability, and opportunity." Wayne Giles, who is president of the Metropolitan Community Colleges that comprises Maple Woods, affirmed Saliman's assessment, and added the key virtue, "entrepreneurial."

Later in the session, Missouri state representative Chuck Graham would endorse Giles' enthusiasm for the role of the community college. These institutions, Graham feels, are "doing a bang-up job." He singled out their ability to respond to the needs of the market place. "They move at light speed," said Graham.

Participants Include:
(seated, left to right)
Debra Cheshier,
Missouri Dept. of Higher Education
State Representative Chuck Graham, Columbia, Missouri
Merna Saliman,
Maple Woods Community College
Bobby Patton,
Central Missouri State University
Sally Winship,
Johnson County Community College
Silvia Robinson,
Governor's Liason to Education, Kansas Barbara Dixon,
Truman State University
Carolyn Cottrell,
Webster University
Sr. Dianne Steele,
University of St. Mary

(second row, left to right)
Tom Gordon,
Avila University
Martha Gilliland,
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Wayne Giles,
Metropolitan Community Colleges
State Representative Trent Skaggs,
Kansas City, Missouri
Dan Carey,
Benedictine College
Anita Salem,
Rockhurst University
Dan Lambert,
Baker University
Beverley Byers-Pevitts,
Park University (Co-Chair)
Ron Turner,
University of Missouri Outreach & Extension Grant Chapman,
Ottawa University
Dean Hubbard,
Northwest Missouri State University (Co-Chair)
(back row, left to right)
Michael McManis,
Truman State University
Bob LeValley,
DeVry University/Keller Graduate School
James Scanlon, Missouri Western State College
John Neal,
Ottawa University
Jim Guikema,
Kansas State University
Ed Douglas,
Missouri Commission on the Future (Board) Tom Bryant,
Pittsburg State University David Sallee, William Jewell College
Joe Martin,
Missouri Department of Higher Education Richard Spindle,
MidAmerica Nazarene University
David Monical,
Washburn University