Higher Learning Commission approves historic education affiliation
2024年7月16日 - 11:11PM
June 27 represents a significant milestone for higher education in
rural Kansas, as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) officially
approved the Change of Control application filed jointly by Fort
Hays State University, North Central Kansas Technical College, and
Northwest Kansas Technical College. This approval will result in
the strategic affiliation of these three institutions, allowing
them to come together under the Fort Hays banner to better serve
the region’s people, businesses, and communities. FHSU President
Mason expressed her gratitude for the support received from various
stakeholders in finalizing this affiliation plan.
Under this new affiliation, North Central Kansas Technical
College will become Fort Hays Tech | North Central. Northwest
Kansas Technical College will be renamed Fort Hays Tech |
Northwest. The Higher Learning Commission's comprehensive
assessment process included a thorough evaluation of academic
offerings, governance, mission, finances, resources, and all degree
levels offered by the institutions.
The vision of an affiliation between the three institutions
emerged from discussions between President Mason, Fort Hays Tech |
North Central President Eric Burks, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest
President Ben Schears. Each of these leaders recognized the urgent
need for higher education in rural Kansas to address significant
and growing threats to the future prosperity of their shared
service region. These threats include an aging population, an
expected 15 percent decline in college-bound students by 2029, and
a 33 percent decline in Kansas’s rural population by 2064.
“What an exciting time for our region and state! We know
for rural Kansas to prosper, every individual must have the
opportunity to develop their talents, skills, and interests,” Burks
said. “By our three institutions working more closely together, we
will be able to enhance our current offerings, simplify our
process, and create new opportunities to prepare students and
generate workforce for our area businesses and communities.”
With the HLC's approval in place, over 20 affiliation
implementation teams are now tasked with integrating and optimizing
various aspects of the institutions to serve students, businesses,
and communities better.
“Our work in the days ahead will focus on integrating our
academic programs and student services and on expanding our already
robust industry and community connections to increase opportunities
for our students, fueling entrepreneurship in rural Kansas, and
meeting the workforce needs of the businesses and communities we
serve,” Schears said.
A series of “Affiliation Launch” events are scheduled in the
hometowns of each of the three campuses. The first event will be at
the old soccer field on the campus of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest
(Goodland) at 5 p.m. on September 10. The downtown pavilion in Hays
will be the site of launch event number two on September 12. The
event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a “ribbon cutting” hosted by the
Hays Chamber. Fort Hays Tech | North Central will host the final
event at 5 p.m. on September 14 in downtown Beloit. These events
will celebrate the historic partnership and allow the community to
learn more about the future of higher education in rural
Kansas.
For more information about this transformative affiliation
partnership, please visit
https://www.fhsu.edu/president/affiliation/.
Scott Cason
Fort Hays State University
785.628.4208
sacason@fhsu.edu