The questions we ask

Last week, several senior members of our community—accompanied by a few younger voices—attended the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors meeting held here in McCook. The visitors, including students, alumni, and longtime supporters, used the public comment period to ask about the current state of performing arts programs at the McCook campus—what we still proudly call McCook Community College (MCC).

For more than a year now, the absence of performing arts offerings has been noticeable. Early explanations suggested staffing difficulties, a challenge that is plausible and increasingly common in today’s labor market. Still, the planned demolition of Tipton Hall—the traditional home of those programs—has raised legitimate questions: is this a temporary setback, or a sign of longer-term change?

Over time, we have observed that the quality of Mid-Plains’ engagement with our community rises and falls with each new administration. From 2003 to 2012, MCC enjoyed strong leadership under Dr. Michael Chipps and Dr. Richard Tubbs. Both were respected locally and their commitment to the McCook campus was never in doubt.

Before that, we had a gentleman named Dr. George Mihel, who, according to reports at the time, made no secret of his intention to close our campus but retain the endowment funds associated with the school. That effort was met with fierce local opposition. The school remained open, Dr. Mihel moved on to greener pastures, and somewhere in that process, the name “McCook Community College” was proudly reclaimed and preserved.

Our hope is that current leadership appreciates the weight of that history and our justifiable sensitivity to discontinued programs and demolition.

That said, we understand that difficult decisions must sometimes be made. While college enrollment is recovering post-COVID, it had been in decline for several years before the pandemic due to demographic shifts and public skepticism about higher education. Anyone who has balanced a home or business budget knows that when revenue fluctuates, adjustments are inevitable.

What we ask is simple: communicate with the community. If programs are being reduced or eliminated, say so—clearly, transparently, and directly. Silence breeds suspicion. Open conversation, even about difficult topics, builds trust. The people of McCook have invested in this college for generations. We’re not asking for veto power—just for the basic courtesy of inclusion and communication.