TOPEKA — Three higher education institutions in central and western Kansas have teamed up to address regional workforce shortages and educational disparities.
Fort Hays State University, Northwest Kansas Tech University and North Central Kansas Tech University have created a new partnership as a way to promote students into the region’s workforce and empower communities to get through difficult times.
Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason said on the “Kansas Reflector” podcast that the partnership is different from a merger or acquisition. The two technical schools are now under the Fort Hays brand, with new logos and fresh merchandise, but remain independently accredited educational institutions. They have been renamed Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Fort Hays Tech Northcentral.
Although this joint venture is still in its early stages, school leaders are optimistic that the education-to-career pipeline they are building will have a lasting impact on the community.
Mason said the three schools are likely to receive federal funding as a group to reinvest in students and communities.
As the cost of higher education becomes increasingly difficult for students, some of the partnership’s efforts focus on reducing barriers to education. This is achieved by creating new programs and enhancing existing programs to suit students’ current circumstances.
Mason said he wants to make registering for classes “as easy as Amazon.com.”
Jennifer Brown, dean of instruction at North Central College of Technology, said nursing and trades are the main areas of interest for students, especially as demand for construction and the shortage of medical workers worsen.
Students can begin their studies at either technical college and pursue a bachelor’s degree online at the university. The goal is a seamless transition, Brown said.
“You can stay and earn your bachelor’s degree anywhere in north central Kansas or western Kansas,” she says.
Brown is part of 14 implementation teams focused on making the new program work. For her, if the initiative is successful, she said, more students will earn credits towards a degree or add on certifications or training.
“I think sometimes it’s really hard to envision the future because we don’t know yet,” Brown said. “From my perspective, one of the best things that comes out of this is the relationships that are being built between all three institutions.”
Peter Leipson, who is overseeing the partnership initiative as director, hopes that over the next few years, students will be able to finish their education and find lucrative jobs on the other side of western and north-central Kansas. He said he was there.
“Ultimately, I think it’s going to be good for them. It’s going to be good for the community. It means there’s kind of a solid business atmosphere,” Leipson said. “I think that’s the ultimate sign of success.
