After a summer of “unexpected chaos,” Seward County Community College President Brad Bennett welcomed a group of Liberal and area residents to the College’s newest open space for students — the One Stop Shop.

“When we decided to renovate the College’s main entrance in the administrative building, it seemed like a great project to tackle over the summer,” Bennett told the group. “The day after our contractors came in to demolish the old office pods, I looked around the black plastic they put up and I thought, ‘what have I done?‘“

Bennett praised the SCCC staff, who cheerfully worked through three months of office relocation, dust and noise.

“I’m so proud of our team,” he said. “We knew this project would be a game changer for our students. Even though some offices had one day to pack up and move to a different space, nobody complained.”

The One-Stop Shop served as the primary conversation topic at the Town Hall meeting. Guests had questions about the purpose of the refit — removing barriers, literally, that confused students who wanted to apply, enroll, get financial aid, and pay their bills, Bennett said — and future plans.

The College has already seen positive results from the One-Stop Shop: fewer students who struggle to find the right office, a renewed sense of teamwork among the student services offices, and excitement about recruiting and enrollment that hasn’t been present since the pandemic. People missed daily connections, Bennett said, and the College is enjoying the sound of laughter in the hallways and conversation.

“We’ll be getting furniture in here and hope to create a place where students can just relax and interact with faculty, staff, classmates,” Bennett said. “Until then, this is a great space for community meetings and other big events.” 

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