Subdistrict 5 Summer 2026 Report

A Message from Trustee Martin

To my community,

Thank you for supporting my reelection to the MCC Board of Trustees. I am appreciative, humbled and eager to represent Subdistrict 5. There are many new and exciting developments as MCC continues to fulfill its mission of preparing students, serving our communities and creating opportunities for all.

In June, the newly expanded MCC-Longview Automotive Institute was dedicated. It will serve students in state-of-the-art facilities offering expanded programs with emphases on diesel mechanics, medium and heavy-duty trucks, collision repair, as well as numerous options in automotive service. This facility, a $27.9 million investment, was funded by both public and private sources.

The MCC-Blue River campus continues to grow as it responds to community demands, particularly in Public Safety fields. Students seeking careers as First Responders have degree and certificate options as Officers in Police or Fire Departments, and as Emergency Medical Technicians.

The College continues to expand its programs of study to high school students. At our recent commencement, dozens of graduates received an associate’s degree or certificate in the same week as their high school diploma! They are now ready to begin careers at a significant savings in tuition and time.

Visit our campuses, learn what we offer to first-time college students or those seeking new or advanced career opportunities. We like to say, you can get "from here anywhere"

Ellen Martin
MCC Trustee-Subdistrict Five

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FEEDBACK FORM

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Trustee Spotlight

Early College Academy at MCC-Blue River

MCC and the Independence School District announced the launch of the ISD MCC Early College Academy, which will enable Independence high school students to take classes at MCC-Blue River alongside college students.

Starting this fall, Early College Academy students — high school juniors and seniors — will spend half of each school day (mornings) at MCC-Blue River. The college classes they take, taught by our faculty, will count toward both high school graduation requirements and college credit.

Early College students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 9 college credit hours each semester. For 2026-27, just 25 cohort seats will be available to ISD students. Here's more on the Early College Academies already offered at MCC campuses.

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Martin was reelected to the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Board of Trustees

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Ellen Martin was reelected to the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Board of Trustees.

Martin won reelection with more than 56 percent of the vote. Martin will continue representing Subdistrict 5, which includes a large portion of Eastern Jackson County.

“I am both proud and grateful to serve as Trustee for Subdistrict 5,” said Martin. “I will join my colleagues in our efforts to fulfill MCC’s mission of preparing students, serving communities and creating opportunities for all.”

The Board of Trustees has fiduciary responsibility for MCC, which primarily serves the Missouri side of the Greater Kansas City area: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Lafayette and Platte counties. A trustee is elected from each of six subdistricts within the MCC District. Trustees are elected to serve staggered six-year terms.

This is the second term for Martin. For the last six years, she has provided stellar leadership that has resulted in the following institutional outcomes:

• The addition of state-of-the-art facilities on all MCC campuses, including the MCC-Penn Valley Advanced Technical Skills Institute and the MCC-Longview Automotive Institute.
• The launch of MCC’s first four-year degree, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care.
• A very successful reaccreditation cycle through the Higher Learning Commission.
• The implementation of new technology that creates greater access, assistance and transparency for MCC students.  

For more information on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees, including meeting agendas and minutes, visit mcckc.edu/leadership/board.aspx.

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MCC Trustee Ellen Martin joins Hall of Fame of Missouri Community College Association

Ellen Martin, a member of Metropolitan Community College’s Board of Trustees, was honored Nov 13, 2025 with an induction into the Missouri Community College Association Hall of Fame.

At an awards dinner at MCCA’s annual convention, in St. Charles, Mo, Martin was lauded “for her lifelong commitment to teaching, governance and advocacy” and called “profoundly deserving” of Hall of Fame induction.

MCCA represents Missouri’s 12 community colleges and provides advocacy, education, information and networking to its member institutions.

Martin has served as MCC’s Subdistrict 5 trustee since being elected to a two-year unexpired term in 2018 and subsequently elected to a standard six-year term in 2020 and 2026.

She is also a retired, longtime MCC faculty member and administrator, starting out as a psychology instructor at the MCC-Longview campus in August 1971.

Over the years, Martin served as Academic (Faculty) Senate president (1978-79), director of research and planning (starting in 1981), and, for nine years, associate vice chancellor/assistant to the chancellor.

She took early retirement in 2000, which allowed her to work part-time for 10 more years. Her primary assignment was “the review, modification and reduction of MCC’s policies, regulations and procedures.”

The activities that gave her “the greatest pleasure during my service to MCC,” Martin wrote, “were, of course, teaching and learning with students, the support of professional development initiatives, and, as a trustee, the opportunity to engage in strategic planning for the continued excellence of MCC.”

Her husband, Robert “Bob” Martin, who died in 2017, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Board of Trustees member (41 years) in MCC history. The Campus Center at MCC-Longview bears his name.

Ellen Martin was one of two inductees into the MCCA Hall of Fame this year.

Also, at the Recognition and Excellence Awards dinner, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City and its president and CEO, DeAngela Burns-Wallace, nominated by MCC, were honored with one of five Community College Partner Awards.

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KC Guarantee, a bold new vision for more affordable college access

Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City has launched KC Guarantee, a transformative initiative designed to make college more accessible and affordable by guaranteeing up to two years of tuition-free education for eligible students.

MCC will pilot the KC Guarantee in three Kansas City area school districts — Center, Grandview and Hickman Mills — with plans to invite additional districts, institutions and regional partners in the future. Through the KC Guarantee, students will be guaranteed a paid path through college, positioning each student for a job or transfer.

“We are launching a bold promise to our students and our community,” said MCC Chancellor and CEO Dr. Kimberly Beatty. “The KC Guarantee ensures that cost will not be a barrier to education. This is about economic mobility, workforce readiness and transforming generations.”

The KC Guarantee is made possible through powerful public/private collaborations, including a $1 million Jackson County (Mo.) Nonprofit Partnership Grant awarded to the MCC Foundation to support the pilot year. MCC will match that investment, creating a $2 million commitment to launch the program. The initiative was also seeded through a major philanthropic investment from Meta’s Kansas City Data Center, one of the MCC Foundation’s largest corporate partners this year. Meta and Great Jobs KC alongside MCC leadership played a foundational role in shaping the vision of the KC Guarantee.

“When Meta comes to a community, we believe in investing in its long-term economic vitality,” said Stef Seger, community development manager for Meta’s Kansas City Data Center. “This partnership with MCC will transform access to education and help build a workforce pipeline that reflects the strength and diversity of Kansas City.”

The goal of the KC Guarantee is to build a network of employers, donors, colleges and school districts offering their own guarantees to a next generation of educated and skilled workers for Kansas City.

Find out how to apply for the KC Guarantee

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MCC-Longview opens state-of-art Automotive Institute and launches a new automotive program

Seven years in the making, MCC’s leadership envisioned modernizing the automotive technology program to expand workforce training opportunities.

In its initial phase, the existing automotive High Technology building was renovated and the collision repair program was expanded. Now after more than a year since its ground-breaking, the new MCC-Longview Automotive Institute combines its academic and corporate training programs entirely in one building, including its new diesel technology program.

The new program is equipped with state-of-the art equipment with ten bays specific to the needs of diesel motor and commercial vehicles, allowing for hands-on learning in this industry specific field. The first program cohort begins in the Fall 2026. 

“For more than 60 years, MCC has set the standard for automotive training and education in our region, preparing more than 9,500 students for careers in the industry,” stated Dr. Beatty, Chancellor and CEO of Metropolitan Community College. “Now with expanded capabilities, open-concept design and modernized teaching labs, MCC is in the position to further its impact even more.”

The new renovated institute includes:

• Dedicated space for each of the three automotive programs
• A second-floor observation bridge overlooking 24 automotive work bays
• Expanded footprint for the Collision program

The project was led by architect firm DLR Group and general contractor McCown Gordon, in partnership with LM2 Construction. The Automotive Institute has an open architectural design inspired by modern auto dealerships.

Many of Missouri’s state and local elected leaders joined MCC staff, faculty and its project partners at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 5, including Congressman Emanual Cleaver, Missouri Speaker Rep. Jon Patterson, Rep. Keri Ingle of MO-District 35 and Lee’s Summit Mayor Beto Lopez to name a few. 



“Today dedication is a huge milestone for the City of Lee’s Summit. We take a lot of pride in Lee’s Summit with workforce initiatives … we would like to be considered the model for workforce initiatives,” stated Mayor Lopez. “This is a huge need for our community and across the country, and to have that here in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, we’re very proud of that, we will be a continued partner as long as I am mayor.”

The MCC-Longview Automotive Institute is the fifth and final building of the Path Forward Capital Campaign led by the MCC Foundation, and it completes the second and final phase of the campaign. The mission of the Path Forward Capital Campaign is to strengthen MCC’s workforce pipeline of local talent by adding scholarships, enhance programs and state-of-the-art facilities. 

“We will continue to tackle the region’s economic and workforce challenges with new programs, new buildings and partner with employers to fill in industry and talent gaps,” stated Dr. Beatty.

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MCC Welcomes the World Cup

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MCC Raises Record $462,000 at 2026 MLK Scholarship Luncheon

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Metropolitan Community College Celebrates First-Ever Bachelor’s Degree Program

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Congratulations to the MCC class of 2026