Intelligent Taylor County
Having an educated workforce is a priority in Campbellsville

Companies that look at Taylor County as a possible place to do business don’t have to look far for quality training for employees.

“We have two excellent public school systems,” said Campbellsville Mayor Paul Osborne. “The test scores of students in these systems remain high compared with other school systems in the area. Our educators and parents have bought into what business and political leaders have been saying over the past four years. If we work together, we can do fantastic things.”

The mayor and other civic leaders are quick to point out that the education scene in Taylor County doesn’t end with the senior year of high school.

“We benefit a lot from Campbellsville University,” said Taylor County Judge Executive Eddie Rogers. “Sen. Mitch McConnell was able to obtain a grant for the university and community that allowed the construction of the Technology Training Center on campus. At the center, they can do training for any kind of industry. Whatever kind of business comes here, their employees can get valuable training using the latest technology at Campbellsville University.”

A solid liberal arts institution affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church, Campbellsville University made headlines in 1998 when Fruit of the Loom announced its plant closing in Taylor County. The university offered professional training for those who had lost their jobs at no cost beyond what the government would pay unemployed workers for retraining.

“There’s a history of strong and effective leadership at Campbellsville University,” said Dr. Michael Carter, the institution’s current president. “The people of this community said, ‘We’re going to take hold of the situation and direct our own future.’ The university became a partner in that commitment.”

The town-gown relationship between university and community is far more friendly than other institutions. President Carter is quick to point out that Campbellsville University is no ivory tower.

“We’re not some place set apart from the rest of the community,” Carter said. “A Campbellsville University education is not just a learning experience in the traditional sense. Our institution is also a laboratory about life and service. Philosophically it fits.

“When the community was having a hard time economically, we asked ourselves what we could do. We quickly adjusted our existing programs and created new ones, allowing adults to enroll and quickly get back into the workforce. We’ve now seen more than 400 adults come through one of our degree programs. We still have a good number of adults enrolled. They’re enrolled in everything from one of our associate degree programs all the way up to our MBA program.”

As far as the University’s Technology Training Center, Carter is justifiably proud. “It’s 11,000 square feet of extremely efficient training space,” he said. “It mirrors the finest in the country at this time. There, we offer everything from computer-aided design classes to language training, along with training in traditional computer software packages. We’re actually a licensed provider of Microsoft and Cisco Certifications.

“Some ask us why we’re involved in all of this. Christian higher education needs to be about excellence and a superior learning experience. In this day and time, technological training is absolutely essential. We like to embody in the classroom the great values of honesty, self-respect and respect toward others. It just so happens that these values are also important to business. Combining those values with technology allows for their application and benefit both businesses and individuals throughout this community.”

Strong public schools are something of a tradition in Taylor County. That makes the area’s workforce all the more attractive to companies eyeing the area for potential plant sites.

“These days you don’t even get a job interview unless you’re a high school graduate or have a GED,” said Gary Seaborne, superintendent of the Taylor County School System. “To our students, we stress the importance of getting that degree and building a brighter future for themselves and the community. Our curriculum has instituted some things to help individuals to do just that.

“In the past, it was too easy to go straight from high school to a job at the Fruit of the Loom plant and earn almost as much as your teacher did your first year at work. Those days are gone and I think we’re better off now. Our students now know how important getting a good education is and we’re committed to giving it to them.”

The use of computers and up-to-date equipment in education has become a priority.

“The emphasis on technology is getting a lot of our energy right now,” said Chuck Vaughn, superintendent of Campbellsville Independent Schools. “One of our approaches is training our students to serve as resources even within our own school system. We have talented high school students doing computer work for our elementary schools. Campbellsville high school students designed our Chamber of Commerce web page.

“But an education here is not just about technology. We have an emphasis on helping the community. We give our students real world practical experience. That experience translates to a knowledge of what it’s like to work with other people and organizations. Our students learn both teamwork and leadership, which is very important.”

Both public school systems and the university have formed extensive partnerships with local businesses that have proven to be mutually beneficial. For example, the university helped to fund the CADD labs at both local high schools. The curriculum has been developed to ensure a “seamless education” through both schools and the Technology Training Center. For those few students who drop out, the schools use grant money to fund the first 200 hours of employment and help the individual structure their time in order to obtain either a high school degree or a GED.

“When one young person gets a real education, he or she discovers that learning never stops,” Vaughn said. “We want our young citizens committed to having a lifestyle of learning. That way, they will continually get better at their jobs and their lives. Then the entire community benefits from their responsibility and intelligence. This is our goal.”



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