For staff, faculty and students at Taft College, summer is over, and school is officially back in session.
With enrollment up this semester to approximately 2,200 students, Superintendent/President Willy Duncan, who permanently took over the post last March, said that the transition has been a smooth one and that he is excited for the coming year and the changes it will inevitably bring.
“All of the staff and faculty have worked very hard to get students into classes and get them off to a good start. I’m really proud of how much our staff and faculty care about the students and their success,” Duncan said.
Students should expect some ongoing and new changes, though.
If you haven’t yet noticed, construction near the library and the Children’s Center is still underway. The Math Building is also under construction, with the goal being to finish site work there by mid-October, at which time some classes will be moved into the building. The library itself, though, is open and ready for use. New amenities available to students there include private and open study spaces, tutoring services in math and creative writing, wireless Internet throughout the library, and laptops for checkout.
For students who miss the first few weeks of school, the college will be offering additional late-start classes (though Duncan did point out that several classes still have openings).
This semester also sees the introduction of the Cougar Tracks student system, which “will allow (administrators) to better serve students in the long run. But this is the first semester we have used it so we ask that you bear with us if we have minor glitches,” Duncan said.
One of the president’s main goals for the 2008-2009 school year is to lead the development of a new strategic plan for Taft College, as the old plan is out of date and in much need of a facelift.
“I think there are quite a few things that have changed in the community and at the college, and we need to take a look at what direction the college is moving and what programs we will be offering in the future,” he said. “In order to do that we will need to gather data from our internal and external environment. I would like to involve the community in that discussion so that we can make sure that we are responsive to their needs.”
Another goal is to complete the work that has already begun in the development of additional funding for the Transition to Independent Living (TIL) program, which assists developmentally disabled adults by teaching them independent-living skills and stressing the importance of accepting responsibility for decisions and choices made.

“We have made great strides this past year in getting federal legislation created that will allow for programs like TIL to be developed across the country. We now need to work just as hard to make sure that it is funded,” Duncan said. “Ultimately, Taft College is leading this effort nationally, and we would like to be named as the coordinating center for the development of these types of programs.”

Additionally, Duncan said that he would like to see the college continue to explore alternative modes of instruction, including hybrid courses combining in-class and distance learning methods, and the development of television and online programming, in addition to the already-established distance learning and online courses.

“The technology is available, and we should look at the best ways to use it,” he said.

He would also like to explore the possibility of creating an international program at Taft College.

“With the tough economic times in the United States, other countries are looking at the opportunities that they can find in the United States, and I think Taft College can be a part of this,” he explained.

And to all new students, Duncan said he would like to encourage them especially to seek help in this initial year of college, if needed.

“I would like to tell new students (to not) be afraid to ask for help. We have well-trained and dedicated faculty and staff here that want to help our students succeed. We have services that we can provide for them if they are struggling or just aren’t sure what they need to do next,” he said.

And this all points toward the ultimate goal: enjoying the educational experience.

“Learning is one of the most rewarding things that we can do in our lifetimes,” Duncan said. “Exposure to new and different ideas can only help to prepare you for what lies ahead.”