Category Archives: Fort Scott Community College

Exercise, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Move for Mental Health Walk – Sept. 8

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Fort Scott Community College

Sending on behalf of Platinum Chamber Champion Member

Fort Scott Community College

Invites you to

Move for Mental Health

Tuesday, September 8th, 2026

The event will start on the North side of the Ellis Fine Arts Center

5–8pm

Join Fort Scott Community College students, staff, and community members to come together and walk in support of mental health awareness. Participants are encouraged to collect donations per lap walked. 100% of the proceeds will directly fund student mental health resources at FSCC.

Click HERE to follow Fort Scott Community College’s Facebook Page!

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board Special Meeting – Sept. 4, 2026

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a Special Board Meeting on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Building on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

The public agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Fort Scott Community College — Board of Trustees Special Meeting

Ellis Fine Arts Center | September 4, 2026 – 2:00 P.M. | Public Agenda

1.0 Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp

2.0 Flag Salute & Invocation

3.0 Personnel

  • 3.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (ACTION)
  • 3.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (ACTION)
  • 3.3 Employment Matters of Non-Elected Personnel (ACTION)

4.0 Adjourn (ACTION)

Documents:

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Move for Mental Health Walk — Sept. 8

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Join FSCC students and staff as we walk to support mental health awareness!

Mental health matters! Come out and support our mental health services for FSCC students and employees!

The event will kick off at 6pm with a prayer and message from Pastor Christopher from the Methodist Church. There will be booths with resources, giveaways, and games!

Free event shirt to the first 50 participants who give a donation!

Jonny O’s Nashville Hot Chicken and Burgers will be here from 5pm to 8pm!

Date: September 8, 2026 | 5pm – 8pm
Location: Starts on the North side of Ellis Fine Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College

Documents:

Fort Scott Community College, Opinion

From the Bleachers: Your Time Is Now

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Dr. Jack Welch

Your Time Is Now

This week’s From the Bleachers is a little different. It is a personal letter to a former athlete, as he prepares for his college season opening game.

I want you to know how proud I am of the man you have become. I have watched your journey from Little League, to junior high, to high school. I had the privilege of recruiting you to East Texas A&M University, and I watched you continue to grow as a football player and as a young man.

Eventually, our paths took us in different directions. I went into the UFL and college administration, while you continued your football journey in college football at the highest levels. Look at where you are today. You have continued to improve, continued to work and continued to chase the dream. This could be one of the greatest years of your football career.

This is your chance. Do not get caught up in the hype or distracted by what people are saying about you or what may come after the season. Keep your eyes on what is directly in front of you. You cannot play tomorrow’s game today.

Play today’s game. Football is physical, but the mental part of the game is just as important. Stay focused on what you can control: your effort, your attitude and your preparation. Motivation may get you started, but discipline keeps you going.

Your standard has always been high. Keep it there. Do not lower it because you are tired, things are difficult or someone else is not meeting the standard. You know who you are, what you are capable of and how much work it took to get here.

Do not waste a day or a play. Every practice, class, workout and game is an opportunity to become better. Strive for excellence when nobody is watching, because that prepares you to perform.

Most importantly, always put God first. John 15:5 reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Let God guide you, keep you humble, strengthen you and remind you that your identity is bigger than football.

When you step onto that field, believe in yourself. Trust your preparation. Do your job. Win the moment. Then move to the next play.

Pardner, I have watched you grow from a little boy into a man with an incredible opportunity. Your time is now. Be great today. Then wake up tomorrow and do it again. I believe in you. I always have. I love you.

Thought for the week, “Attitude is everything.” Tracy Welch, legendary coach.

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Aug. 31

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Building.

The meeting will begin with the 2026–2027 Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing, followed by the 2026–2027 Budget Hearing. Upon completion of both hearings, the Board will proceed with the remaining regular agenda items.

Public comment opportunities will be provided during both the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing and the Budget Hearing for interested taxpayers and members of the public to provide comments related to those respective matters.

Meeting Information

Date: Monday, August 31, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Ellis Fine Arts Building, Fort Scott Community College

Public Agenda

1.0 Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp
1.1 Roll Call of Trustees by the Clerk (Bailey, Brown, Cosens, Hoyt, McKinnis, Ropp)

2.0 Flag Salute & Invocation

3.0 2026–2027 Revenue Neutral Hearing
3.1 Open 2026–2027 Revenue Neutral Hearing (Information)
3.2 Comments From The Public (Information)
3.3 Consideration of Resolution No. 26-08 (Action)
3.4 Close Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing (Information)

4.0 2026–2027 Budget Hearing
4.1 Open FY 2026–2027 Budget Hearing (Information)
4.2 Presentation of Proposed Budget (Information)
4.3 Comments from the Public (Information)
4.4 Close 2026–2027 Budget Hearing (Information)

5.0 Consideration of Resolution 26-09 (Action)

6.0 Old Business
6.1 Contract Termination with USD 234 (Information)
6.2 Consideration of Course Catalog Revisions (Action)

7.0 New Business
7.1 FSCC Capital Improvement Plan (Information)
7.2 Consideration of Merchandise Store RFP (Action)

8.0 Personnel
8.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action)
8.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (Action)
8.3 Employment Matters of Non-Elected Personnel (Action)

9.0 Board Workshop on HLC Criterion 2 (Information)

10.0 Adjourn (Action)

The full agenda is available as an attachment: 08_31_2026_Public_Agenda.pdf

Fort Scott Community College, Opinion

From the Bleachers: One Person Can Make the Difference

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Dr. Jack Welch

One Person Can Make the Difference

Championship teams are not built because everyone thinks alike. They are built because people with different experiences, personalities, skills and perspectives learn to work together toward a common goal.

Sometimes, however, it takes one person stepping forward to help a team discover what it is capable of becoming. In 2010, 33 miners were trapped nearly 2,300 feet underground after a collapse at the San José copper-gold mine in Chile. The situation was frightening and uncertain. They did not know how long they would be underground or whether they would be rescued.

Luis Urzúa, the shift foreman, immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation. He took charge, organized the men, helped establish a plan for survival and worked to keep the group mentally focused. He created detailed maps that would assist rescuers and communicated with engineers on the surface.

Urzúa didn’t rescue those 33 men by himself. He couldn’t. It took engineers, rescuers, government officials, drilling crews and countless others working together to bring the miners home. Yet one person made a tremendous difference. His leadership helped bring order to uncertainty. His calmness helped others remain calm. His willingness to accept responsibility gave the group direction.

That is an important lesson for every college faculty and staff. We don’t need everyone to think alike. We don’t need everyone to approach a problem the same way. We need people who are willing to recognize what the team needs and step forward to provide it.

One person may have the experience we need. Another may have the relationship that opens a door. Someone else may see a solution nobody else has considered. Another may simply be the person who encourages everyone else when the pressure is greatest.

One person can make a difference. However, one person cannot build a championship team alone. It takes trust. It takes loyalty. It takes focus. It takes people willing to put aside personal preferences when necessary and blend their individual strengths into something greater than themselves.

A championship culture is not about everyone getting their way. It is about everyone understanding the goal and asking, “What can I do to help this team succeed?”

At our college, our goal is bigger than any individual department, position or personality. It is about our students and the future we are helping them build.

The best teams recognize that every person matters. Sometimes the person who makes the difference is the person standing beside you. Sometimes it can be you.

Thought for the Week: “Different perspectives can make us stronger. Shared purpose makes us a team. And sometimes, one person can make all the difference.” — James Robert Tucker, Professional Cowboy

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Aug. 21

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special board meeting on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Building.

The public agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Special Meeting

Ellis Fine Arts Center — August 21, 2026 — 12:00 P.M.

1.0 Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp

2.0 Flag Salute & Invocation

3.0 Personnel

  • 3.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (ACTION)
  • 3.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (ACTION)
  • 3.3 Consideration of Chief Information Officer (ACTION)
  • 3.4 Consideration of Dean of Enrollment & Student Services (ACTION)

4.0 Adjourn (ACTION)

Documents:

Fort Scott Community College, Opinion

From the Bleachers: Hit the Ball Through the Opening

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From the Bleachers: Hit the Ball Through the Opening

By Dr. Jack Welch

There is something about this time of year that brings both excitement and uncertainty. Fall sports are gearing up. Coaches are putting teams together, teachers are preparing classrooms, and students are getting ready for another school year. Everyone is moving forward, but not everyone knows exactly what lies ahead.

Uncertainty can create fear. Fear can lead to hesitation. Hesitation can lead to indecision.

I recently heard a story about a golfer who was uncomfortable hitting a shot out of the rough, through a narrow opening between trees. He looked at the trees and began focusing on everything that could go wrong. What if he hit a tree? What if the ball went the wrong direction? The more he focused on the obstacles, the more difficult the shot became.

His friend offered a different perspective: Don’t focus on the trees. Imagine yourself hitting the ball through the opening. There is a leadership lesson in that story. The trees represent the problems, mistakes and failures that are always around us. The opening represents where we want to go.

There will be mistakes this fall. Coaches will make decisions that don’t work. Athletes will have bad games. Teachers will have lessons that fall flat. That first-year teacher may walk into the classroom scared half to death, wondering if they are prepared enough. Leaders will make decisions without knowing exactly how everything will turn out.

The answer isn’t to pretend the trees aren’t there. The answer is to keep our eyes on the opening. Leadership doesn’t mean eliminating fear or uncertainty. It means refusing to let them control our decisions. Leaders gather information, seek good counsel, trust their preparation, make the best decision they can and move forward.

As we begin another school year, don’t spend all your time staring at the trees. See the opening. Focus on where you want to go. Then take the swing. You might hit a tree. You might hit a great shot. Either way, you won’t know until you take the swing.

“Fear sees the obstacles. Courage sees the opportunity. Don’t stare at the trees, keep your eyes on the opening and take the swing.” — Dr. Doyle Welch, Pastor

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board of Trustees Meeting – Aug. 17, 2026

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold its regular meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Center.

Public Agenda

1.0 Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp

1.1 Roll Call of Trustees by the Clerk
Bailey  |  Brown  |  Cosens  |  Hoyt  |  McKinnis  |  Ropp

2.0 Flag Salute & Invocation

3.0 Approval of Official Agenda (Action)

4.0 Approval of Consent Agenda (Action)

4.1 Minutes

  • July 16, 2026, Board of Trustees Special Meeting
  • July 20, 2026, Board of Trustees Meeting

4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register – $471,554.64
4.4 Payroll

  • August 15, 2026 – $785,360.64

4.5 Contract Ratification

5.0 Community, Employee, and Student Recognition (Information)

5.1 Program Review – Nursing
5.2 Recognition: Students & Program Update – Volleyball

6.0 Leadership Reports & Updates (Information)

7.0 Old Business

8.0 New Business

8.1 Consideration of Media Kit (Action)
8.2 Lease Termination Authorization (Action)
8.3 Q2 – Board Goals Progress Update (Information)

9.0 Public Forum

Comments should be restricted to no more than three minutes. Requests should be submitted by noon on the day of the Board meeting. Forms will be presented to the Board Chair for consideration. Matters which are personal in nature or relate to personnel matters will not be heard publicly.

10.0 Personnel

10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action)
10.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (Action)
10.3 Employment Matters of Non-Elected Personnel (Action)

11.0 Board Reports (Information)

  • Finance Committee – Chad Cosens & Doug Ropp
  • Policies – Marilyn Hoyt
  • Negotiation Committee – Destry Brown
  • Strategic Plan Committee – Ronda Bailey & Marilyn Hoyt
  • KACCT & Greenbush – Ronda Bailey
  • Student Leadership/Coaching Academy – Chad McKinnis

12.0 Adjourn (Action)

Documents:

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Aug. 14

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Fort Scott Community College will hold a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees on Friday, August 14, at 12:00 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Building.

The meeting agenda is attached for your review.

Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Special Meeting

Ellis Fine Arts Center — August 14, 2026 – 12:00 P.M.

Public Agenda

1.0 Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp

1.1 Roll Call of Trustees by the Clerk
___Bailey___Brown___Cosens___Hoyt___McKinnis___Ropp

2.0 Flag Salute & Invocation

3.0 Leadership Reports & Updates (Information)

3.1 Academics – Vice President of Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management – Dr. Larry Guerrero
3.2 Advancement – Dean of Advancement – Lindsay Hill
3.3 Athletics – Athletic Director – Dave Wiemers
3.4 Finance – CFO – Vice President of Finance & Operations – Gina Shelton
3.5 Student Services – Dean of Student Affairs – Vanessa Poyner
3.6 Grant Updates – Dean of Advancement – Lindsay Hill
3.7 Presidential Update – President Dr. Jack Welch

4.0 Review of August 17th Agenda Items (Information)

5.0 Personnel

5.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action)
5.2 Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (Action)

6.0 Board Member Training (Information)

7.0 Adjourn (Action)

Documents:

Fort Scott Community College, Gordon Parks Museum

New Hours for Gordon Parks Museum

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Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

 

 

Gordon Parks Museum Announces New Regular Hours                                                  

Fort Scott, Kan. – The Gordon Parks Museum, located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, will observe new regular museum hours which began the week of August 3, 2026.

The museum’s regular hours are:

Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Friday afternoons: Closed
Weekends: Closed

Hours may vary, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm the museum is open. The museum may be closed during college campus breaks, meetings, staff travel, and other college or museum activities.

The museum invites visitors to explore the life and legacy of Gordon Parks through its exhibitions, photographs, personal artifacts, and special displays. Visitors can learn more about Parks’ remarkable life and career as a photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician.

To schedule a group tour or for more information, contact the Gordon Parks Museum at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or email [email protected].

The Gordon Parks Museum is located in the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus in Fort Scott, Kansas.

For more information or to schedule a museum visit or tour, contact the Gordon Parks Museum at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or email [email protected].

 

 

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Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Aug. 6

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts Building on the Fort Scott Community College campus.

Public Agenda

Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Special Meeting
Ellis Fine Arts Center — August 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

  1. Call Meeting to Order – Chair Doug Ropp
  2. Flag Salute & Invocation
  3. Approval of 2026-2027 Course Catalog (Action)
  4. Personnel
    1. Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action)
    2. Exit Executive Session – Return to Open Session (Action)
    3. Employment Matters of Non-Elected Personnel (Action)
  5. 2026-2027 Budget Review (Information)
  6. Adjourn (Action)

Documents: