Today (Monday, August 24), Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is excited to welcome students to campus for the first day of the 2026-2027 academic year.
“As we begin another academic year, we at JCCC remain focused on helping every student find a path to success,” said Dr. Tony Miksa, JCCC President. “Whether they are working toward a degree or certificate, preparing to transfer to a four-year college, or exploring future career opportunities, JCCC is committed to providing the support, resources, and high-quality educational experiences our students need to thrive.”
This year, students will find expanded opportunities for academic exploration, enhanced support services, and continued investment in campus facilities through JCCC’s long-term Facilities Master Plan.
New academic opportunities
Starting this fall, the College will offer a new general education course, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Essentials,” to help students build the AI literacy needed for academic, professional, and everyday use. Students will explore how modern AI tools operate, apply AI to real-world tasks, evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy and bias, and discuss key ethical, legal, and privacy concerns surrounding these tools.
“Hawaii: The Biodiversity & Cultures of the Hawai’ian Islands” is a new study away program for Fall 2026 that bridges biology and culture/anthropology. The course includes weekly meetings during the fall semester and concludes with a seven-day faculty-led trip to Oahu, where students will explore biological and cultural diversity, conservation, the environment, colonization, and tourism.
JCCC is also expanding access to its Exploring Academic and Personal Success course and Navigating College course. Beginning this fall, the course will be offered at no cost to incoming degree-seeking students who declare an Exploratoryor Undecided area of interest, helping students build skills such as goal setting, time management, financial literacy, self-care, and academic communication.
Expanded student support
The College continues to align support services with the evolving needs of students. JCCC students benefit from a wide range of free resources, including academic, personal, and career counseling, access to the Student Basic Needs Center, and free tutoring through the Academic Resource Center (ARC).
This fall, the ARC will host a series of free, drop-in workshops for students to improve academic skills and explore learning strategies in math, reading, and writing. Similar to the concepts taught in JCCC’s College Success courses, these workshops offer students a convenient way to develop effective study strategies and strengthen academic skills in a shorter, more flexible format.
JCCC faculty also continue to invest in teaching excellence and student success. This year, all faculty will participate in professional enrichment training through the Association of College and University Educators on Developing Students’ Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills. The training will equip faculty across all disciplines with research-based strategies to strengthen student learning, engagement, and critical thinking. By investing in innovative approaches to teaching and learning, JCCC continues to place students at the center of the educational experience and support academic achievement, career readiness, and long-term success.
Looking ahead
As JCCC enters the new academic year, the College remains focused on its 10-year Facilities Master Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in 2025. The plan will guide future strategic campus development and prioritizes advancing student success, meeting regional workforce needs, and strengthening community partnerships throughout Johnson County.
In the first phase of the plan, JCCC will construct a new building on the main campus to support the growing number of students interested in healthcare-related programs and careers while helping meet state and regional workforce demand. JCCC plans to break ground on the new building during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Additional goals within the Facilities Master Plan include expanding career and technical education facilities, exploring additional space for public safety and science programs, improving wayfinding across campus, enhancing athletic support spaces, and addressing aging infrastructure.
Through new academic offerings, enhanced student support services, and strategic campus investments, JCCC remains committed to its mission of inspiring learning to transform lives and strengthen communities.
More information about the Facilities Master Plan is available at jccc.edu.
