BCC Prepares for New President
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College's new leadership is coming into focus as the academic year winds down and Ellen Kennedy prepares to retire from campus.
The Board of Trustees last week heard updates on the upcoming leadership change, as Hara Charlier will be the college's president come July 1. Chair Julia Bowen said Kennedy and her successor have been meeting at least weekly to ensure that Charlier is ready to step in on day one.
"My gathering is that it's enjoyable also. I've been able to join for a few of the sessions to check in," Bowen reported. "I want to convey the transition is happening, and I believe it will be bumpy because it will be bumpy, but it will be as smooth as it can be."
The trustees unanimously recommended Charlier to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education in March, and her appointment was approved earlier this month.
Charlier, 10-year president of Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minn., was one of four finalists identified by the Presidential Search Committee who visited the campus. The process took more than six months, beginning with Kennedy's announcement of her upcoming retirement in September after more than 17 years with the college, 14 as president.
After Kennedy steps down at the end of the fiscal year, she will serve as the interim president of Cape Cod Community College. She was recently unanimously endorsed as interim president of the West Barnstable college, following misconduct findings by the former president, who then retired.
Also during this meeting, the trustees supported a 2.76 percent fee increase, approved a preliminary budget reflecting a projected 5 percent increase in enrollment, and a potential budget deficit of $285,000 if the TRIO programs' funding were cut.
TRIO student support services is federally funded under the U.S. Department of Education and assists students from first-generation, low-income backgrounds and students with disabilities.
Trustees expressed support for the program, which sees about $285,000 in federal funding. BCC expects the grant to continue, but federal support remains uncertain, and the college has committed to continuing TRIO in the next academic year and will identify alternative funding sources if its funding is cut.
"We are adding that into our budget as a possible scenario. We don't know for sure that it is at jeopardy. Again, it's a conversation," Vice President of Administration and Finance Christina Wynn said.
"We will know a lot more in the August, September timeframe. We presented it as a scenario and to sort of say that we are committed to finding ways to fund the TRIO program."
Bowen explained that Kennedy has been keeping Charlier up to date on recent decisions, such as this, to ensure there are no potential areas of disconnect when she begins work.
A community celebration to honor Kennedy will be held at BCC on June 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. with comments in the Boland Theatre at the beginning of the event.
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