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Campus News

August 11th, 2026

Garrett College releases strategic plan report

Enrollment expansion, record-breaking student success metrics noted

Garrett College has released its FY26-30 Strategic Plan: Year 1 Update, which summarizes the institution’s progress in implementing the first year of the five-year strategic plan.

The report highlights FY26/Year 1 implementation achievements, including:

  • Increases in both credit hours (9.32 percent) and student headcount (8.04 percent) over Fiscal Year 2025.
  • A Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) rate of 96.29 percent, breaking a record of 96.01 percent set in Fiscal Year 2025. SAP is based on the percentage of students who end a term with a satisfactory academic status.
  • A cumulative 3.62 Grade-Point Average (GPA) for the initial radiologic technology cohort.
  • High School Dual Enrollment (HSDE) all-time headcount records in three of the four academic semesters, including 300 HSDE students in Spring 2026.
  • The launching of the Garrett College men’s soccer program, which added 23 full-time students, in fall 2025.
  • Implementation – in partnership with the Garrett College Foundation – of an Athletics Capital Campaign that, to date, has raised nearly $900,000 on a $500,000 initial goal.
  • Completion of the 700 Building renovation phases 1 and 2, providing locker rooms, athletic training facilities, a fitness center, and coaches offices. Phases 3 and 4 (the final two phases – set for fall 2026 completion) will provide a conference room, two additional offices, and entryway to the turf field for the four intercollegiate teams that play on the adjacent field.
  • Implementation of a wide array of technology projects that provided upgraded technology for: campus wi-fi; the Edwards Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex Point-of-Sale (POS) system; leased printers; main campus classroom and conference room technology; and Adult Basic Education (ABE) technology at the Southern Outreach Center (SOC).
  • Enhancements in procurement, scholarships, summer camps, capital budget tracking, summer adjunct faculty onboarding, and variable-hour new-hire processes, most at little or no cost to the institution beyond staff time.

“The College had an incredibly successful year in FY26,” said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president. “This illustrates what an institution can do when it has a detailed plan as well as practical strategies to implement the plan.”

Dr. Robert “JR” Kerns, dean of student affairs, noted the FY26 enrollment growth continued an impressive, five-year trend.

“Our headcount enrollment has grown more than 26 percent since Fiscal Year 2022 and our total credit hours have increased by more than 30 percent in that same time period,” said Kerns.

“What may be most impressive is that our student success metrics are improving as enrollment is growing,” said Professor Christa Bowser, Garrett’s chief academic officer. “The fact that more than 96 percent of our students were making satisfactory academic progress after Spring 2026 is a testament to our faculty, our staff, and our students.”

Garrett College’s Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) Division also had an impressive FY26. CEWD generated 4.2 percent more revenue than its FY2026 goal, and increased revenue by more than $186,000 between FY22 and FY26.

“That illustrates how well CEWD identifies community needs and then develops the programs to meet those needs,” said Julie Yoder, Garrett College’s CEWD dean.

GC’s Administrative Services Division oversaw major renovations within the 700 Building that tied directly to strategic goals related to growing enrollment and enhancing student success.

“The College is strategically expanding intercollegiate athletics to increase enrollment and build on enhanced student success metrics,” said Lisa Nichols, dean of administrative services. “The multi-million-dollar 700 project provides opportunities to expand on those achievements.”

The Athletics Capital Campaign ably supported those goals, Midcap said.

“The community has enthusiastically supported this capital campaign because they understand we’re employing athletics as a way to increase revenue, enhance campus culture, and improve student success metrics,” said Midcap. “This has been a long-term plan unanimously endorsed by our Board of Trustees that is coming to fruition.”

Midcap said the College’s successes wouldn’t be possible without the support of many partners.

“The Garrett County Commissioners have played several key funding roles – operating funding, capital funding, and the Garrett County Scholarship Program funding,” said Midcap. “I don’t think there is any community college in Maryland better supported by its local county government.

“We also have incredibly strong relationships with Garrett County Public Schools and the Garrett County business community,” added Midcap. “The Appalachian Regional Commission, the Dove Center, the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, the Garrett County Arts Council, StageWEST, the Mountain Laurel Garden Club, the Garrett County Health Department – we have so many partners who have played critical roles in our success.”