Molly Walsh: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Molly Walsh

City: Crystal Lake

Office sought: McHenry County College board of trustees, (6 year term)

Age: 72

Family: Husband, Bob

Occupation: Retired

Education: B.A. - St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana; M.S. ED - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

Civic involvement: MCC trustee (2013-2019), currently Board Secretary; McHenry County Historical Society, Board member, Treasurer; League of Women Voters, member; Environmental Defenders, member.

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? Yes, elected in 2013 for a 6-year term

Website: www.votemollywalsh.com

Facebook: mollywalsh4trustee

Issue questions

Describe your vision for the primary role of a community college.

Community colleges are tied directly to the local educational needs of the community and the workforce it serves. This community based, community focus is what distinguishes community colleges from the rest of higher education. There are many reasons why someone chooses to attend McHenry County College. For some it's to transfer to a four year institution, others to obtain a certificate to enter directly in the workforce, others to learn English or obtain a high school equivalent certificate and some just for the joy of learning. For whatever reason someone chooses to attend McHenry County College, their being successful in reaching their goal is the primary focus of a community college.

How well is your community college fulfilling that role? What changes, if any, need to be made?

McHenry County College's mission is: Our focus is learning and student success is our goal. Initiatives like the Early Alert System and the Foundation's Student Success Fund which provides immediate financial support for unexpected emergencies are initiatives that contribute to student success. The Board and employees (administrators, faculty and staff) have a laser focus on student success. We are always reviewing data to ensure that we are meeting our goals. We need to continue to develop programs like the physical therapy assistant program and the welding certificate that meet the needs of our workforce and continue to expand learning opportunities through apprenticeships and internships.

Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board?

I was employed at McHenry County College in the Continuing Education Department from 1986-2008. I have no direct family employed currently at the college.

Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?

MCC receives revenue from primarily three sources: tuition and fees, state funding and local property taxes. Each November the Board examines our expenses versus our revenue and what are our future needs are to determine if the tax levy should be raised. For the last six years, the Board has approved no additional dollars thus the dollars received from the property taxes has remained flat for the past six years. I believe for too long taxing bodies have raised their levies because they could not necessarily because of need. MCC has been able to keep the levy flat due to responsible spending and budgeting. If and when the board decides to increase the tax levy it will be because we need additional dollars to continue to provide excellent educational opportunities for our community and workforce.

Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?

Although community colleges state wide are experiencing lower enrollments, MCC has had an increase in enrollment for the past several years. The percentage of students attending MCC directly from high school have steadily increased. However the nontraditional student (over 25 years of age) has not increased significantly. I would like to see MCC expand it's focus on returning students and those workers looking to increase their employability, more resources spent in developing new programs like the physical therapy assistant program, nursing and welding to attract the nontraditional student. Latino students represent 14 percent of the MCC student population and are often the first in family to attend college. We need to make sure we are addressing the needs of this specific population.