Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter at Coffeyville Community College are celebrating Founders Week, November 18-22 by participating in the Society’s international initiative, community college completion corps.  This initiative encourages community college students to commit to complete their two year associate’s degree or technical program credential by signing the special C-4 Banner.  Each Kansas Community College will present their banner at the statewide initiative to be held in Topeka February 13 at the All Kansas Academic Team Luncheon.  Guest speaker will be Dr. Rod Risley, Executive Director and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, Jackson, Mississippi.

Research has found that college completion is a matter of great importance to society.  We need to double the number of college completions of the 1920s.  In the 1980s, the U.S. began to fall and our country is now 15th when compared with the college completion rates of other countries; in math related areas we fall to 25th. 
According to Dr. Risley, it is a moral imperative that students complete their degree programs to help shape a positive future for our country.  Emerging economies are in a global village and how are we going to pay for medical programs, defense, etc. without a thriving work force?  Dr. Risley believes that non-completion threatens our democracy.  Most of the new jobs created will require a post-secondary credential for a living wage.  Mississippi is now experiencing a 45% drop-out rate.  Much of the U.S. work force is getting older and how can we support an economy when we can’t compete?  Phi Theta Kappa research also found that high school students are not ready for college.  They often have to take three levels of developmental courses before reaching college and often drop out.  Research has also found that individuals who complete a credential are more likely to vote, are healthier, volunteer more in their community, and are 30% less likely to be unemployed.  Employers want discipline and are more likely to hire persons that finish what they start.  In the future, many of the new jobs will be in science, technology, and engineering.  Many students in these areas are international.  After finishing their degrees, they may return to their home countries which compete against us.  Many jobs coming back from China need a new set of skills; our education system often prepares students for jobs that don’t exist.  To counteract this, we are beginning to see some states go to performance based funding relying upon transfer and graduation rates.  In less than six years, nearly all new jobs will require a post-secondary credential or degree.  If students don’t complete at the community college level, they are much less likely to complete the B.S. or B.A. degree.  Many colleges are now requiring a Phi Theta Kappa member to finish their associate’s degree before awarding them a Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship.  Research also shows that completing a two-year degree can make a $500,000 difference in expected lifetime earnings.

Phi Theta Kappa is the world’s largest Honor Society.  Over 3 million members from nine countries have been inducted since the Society was chartered in Missouri November 19, 1918.  Since 1935 the Society has been based in Mississippi, home of the nation’s oldest public two-year college system.  The Headquarters was in Canton, Mississippi, for more than five years and moved to Jackson in 1990.  There are approximately 1,300 chapters world-wide.  Phi Theta Kappa has unmatched opportunities for the development of soft skills such as leadership training.  Phi Theta Kappa provides:  scholarship opportunities, leadership roles, transfer assistance, professional development, recognition, a global network of fellow scholars, and one of the world’s greatest conventions.

Serving as officers of CCC’s Eta Gamma Chapter are :  Eric Mueller, President; Brianna Spence, Jessika Hamrick, and Luke Hailey, Vice Presidents of Scholarship; Miranda Akers and Bethany Acridge, Co-Vice Presidents of Service; Shelby Howard and Hernan Ensaldo, Co-Vice Presidents of Communication; Scott Silknitter and Bethany Walrod, Co-Vice Presidents of Fellowship; Paige Porter, Public Relations; Conner Traxson, Treasurer; Karen Stoehr, Secretary; Li Yang, International Student Representative; Darah Sherwood and Bethany Walrod, Co-Relay For Life Chairmen and Linda McFate, Advisor.