Many aspects of Riverland Community College are going to feel a lot like home for the next president, Terrence Leas.

Leas, the current dean for student services at Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Washington, will be drawing on his experience both in working on a multi-campus college and adjusting to a growing Hispanic population to make the transition on July 14 a smooth one.

Nonetheless, Leas will be coming in during a tough budget year for higher education, with large cuts expected from the legislature.

That will be one of the first concerns the new president will have to face, and he is already working to get up to date on the issue. He said those concerns are common ones among community colleges across the nation, and the situation is having a real impact on students.

"With state budgets being cut, tuition being increased, that's making it more difficult for students to go to college," Leas said.

Leas said he will work with state officials and other presidents across Minnesota to try to ease the impact, but he also knows he has to do things locally. Leas hopes to help off-set tuition difficulties for the students.

Money from other sources would help, he said.

"I want to work with the foundation to increase its endowment so you can provide more in the form of scholarship aid."

The increasing Hispanic population is something Leas has worked with before. In Yakima, there is a focus on providing services that are outside the school-curriculum side of the college.

Working with state organizations to get offices or resources in the school is an important way to meet those needs, as is employment help and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

Leas has experience with programs such Upward Bound and Gear Up, two federal programs that help make college an option for people coming from low-income families or families without a history of educational advancement.

"We're trying to help those who need help and don't have the resources to pursue their interests and dreams," he said.

Some of those programs work through the middle schools and high schools. Leas said services at the college can be a positive for the whole community.

"Once you get the programs in place, the services they provide benefit anyone who needs them," he said.

Leas sees the college as an important part of the whole area, not just Austin, Albert Lea and Owatonna. Besides being a cultural center for the community, Leas said sometimes the colleges can create educational opportunities for other communities.

Yakima Valley provides "distance learning" for other towns in the area through classes conducted through interactive video, he said. That way, students who have trouble commuting could still have the opportunity to take college courses.

They have also coordinated classes between area hospitals and other schools, he said.

Leas said he does not want to come in right away and start changing things. His first order of business is getting to know the staff and community and finding out exactly what the needs of the school are. He said he is very impressed with Riverland, and his philosophy is similar to that of Interim President Jim Davis.

"I think that people are going to find me willing to work at all levels," he said.

He does not micro manage, he said. He said a talented staff can better work to meet the needs within their own areas.

"My management style is to hire good people and make sure the have the tools they need to do their job," he said.

Coordinating efforts is the key, he said.

"It's very important for people to understand that we may be two campuses and an outreach center, but we're one college, one team," he said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com