TORRINGTON – Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) presidential candidate Andrew Long of McCook, Neb. emphasized the importance of boosting morale, developing leaders and strengthening community during his open forum Thursday at the Fine Arts Auditorium.
During his first 90 days as president, if elected, Long said he would begin by immersing himself in the community.
“The first thing I’d plan on doing if I was here is to get out and meet people,” Long said. “I’m really big on partnerships. I’m really big on building relationships … building that trust, it takes time, but that’s what I’m committed to doing.”
Long expressed a desire to create a president’s leadership class, as well as an athletics leadership class. He said he has found similar programs valuable during his educational career.
“(A leadership class) is a great recruitment tool for top-notch students to stay,” Long said, adding it also develops leaders and strengthens relationships.
Long has also been involved in business entrepreneurship competitions and awarded thousands of dollars in business grants – using money his committee raised – to assist new and expanding businesses.
“It’s been a great way to bump up entrepreneurship,” Long said. “We can work together to do this to help build these small businesses to make the economy more viable.”
Long described himself as very “data-driven”.
“With the budget situation, one thing we could do to help us out is increase enrollment,” he said. In his college administration experience, Long said he has used data to implement strategic enrollment plans, targeted mailing campaigns and recruitment coaches, with favorable results.
“If you look at it, all we really got to do (at EWC) is find a way to make 10 to 15 more students graduate a year and make this one of the top rural colleges … for student success,” he said.
“As we look at the budget, the key for the college moving forward is, what is our core? What do we do better than anybody else? … and keep our focus there,” he continued.
“As a community, as a college, we need to step back and say, ‘What are we the best at?’ … and make that the basis for our growth.”
Long also highlighted the significance of morale amongst college staff and students.
“It’s important to increase the morale at the college (in the face of budget cuts),” he said, using handwritten cards and food as examples. “Those little opportunities we have to build community … just a chance to reconnect with people.”
Long said he is an advocate of the community, and believes it is critical to boost local service clubs and organizations.
“I’m very involved in community,” he said, referring to his time as a Rotarian, Lion, softball coach, member of economic development and more. “We need more people … to join these civic organizations to keep our community going strong.”
Long closed his presentation with a positive reminder regarding the purpose of community colleges.
“I’ve seen the passion people have at this college,” he said. “When we have all this extra stuff going on with … transitions and discouragement, we just have to remember why we’re here, and that’s transforming student lives, and community colleges do that better than anyone.”
Long received a bachelor of science in secondary education, 7-12 grade social studies and coaching endorsements in 2000. He received graduate credit hours from Doane College and the University of Nebraska – Kearney. In 2014, he received a master of science in child, youth, and family studies.
Long is currently serving as the vice president of student affairs at McCook Campus for Mid-Plains Community College, a position he has held since 2013. Prior to his present position he was at Northeastern Junior College where he served as the dean of enrollment management from 2010-2013 and the director of admissions/new student enrollment from 2008-2010. He was an interviewing manager at Gallup from 2006-2008. Long was a social studies teacher and head girls’ basketball coach at Cozad High School from 2004-2006. From 2000-2004, he was the social studies teacher, head boys’ basketball coach and assistant track coach at South Platte Public Schools in Big Springs, Neb.
In 2011-2012 he was recognized at the Professional/Technical Employee of the Year at Northeastern Junior College and was the Outstanding Student Life Supporter in 2010-2011. He received the Cozad Public Schools Golden Apple Award in 2006 and in 2005 received the Outstanding Teacher Award.
Long has presented nationally at many conferences and is very involved in the McCook community.
