April 23, 2026
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
Barton Community College’s Dean of Academics Dr. Stephanie Joiner has been named a 2026 recipient of the Sunflower Award for Corequisite Innovation, presented by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR).
The award recognizes leaders across Kansas who are improving student access and success through innovative corequisite education models. Barton Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said Joiner’s leadership has played a key role in advancing student success at Barton.
“During her service as an executive director and currently serving as the dean of academics, Dr. Joiner has worked directly with English and math faculty to shift instruction from a developmental education model to a corequisite model,” she said. “Additionally, she led these same faculty forward to the Kansas Community College Corequisite Symposium that was hosted on the Barton campus last fall. Back by popular demand, the symposium will occur again this fall with the addition of four-year educators joining community college colleagues.”
The Sunflower Award for Corequisite Innovation highlights faculty whose work supports the goals of the KBOR's "Building a Future" strategic plan. Simmons said the award honors efforts to remove barriers in gateway courses and strengthen student momentum toward completing certificates and degrees.
“Dr. Joiner’s leadership, combined with Barton’s dedicated English and math faculty, are advancing student access and strengthening course, certificate, and degree completion,” she said. “We are proud of Dr. Joiner’s efforts and recognize the KBOR's Sunflower Award as a well-deserved honor.”
The recognition was shared with the KBOR System Council of Chief Academic Officers in March and will also be presented to the KBOR Academic Affairs Standing Committee
Joiner’s work continues to support Barton’s mission of providing accessible, high-quality education while helping students progress more efficiently toward their academic goals.
For more information about Barton Community College, visit bartonccc.edu.