K-State at Salina, Cowley County Community College work to expand offerings at both schools

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Sources: Dennis Kuhlman, 785-826-2601, dkuhlman@salina.k-state.edu; Dixie Schierlman, 785-826-2643, dixies@salina.k-state.edu; and John DeLeon, 785-826-2677, jd17@salina.k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-826-2642, kmayes@salina.k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

K-STATE AT SALINA, COWLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORK TO EXPAND OFFERINGS AT BOTH SCHOOLS

SALINA -- Technical students at Cowley County Community College can now look to the future and see Kansas State University at Salina in their sights.

Officials with K-State at Salina and Cowley signed a transfer agreement April 11. It will allow students who start out at Cowley to finish out a bachelor's degree at K-State at Salina. The bachelor's degrees available are in technology management, electronic engineering technology, computer systems technology and mechanical engineering technology.

This past fall, officials from Cowley contacted K-State at Salina about working together to provide their technical students with some options beyond a two-year degree. They then discussed how to integrate Cowley's technical specialties and K-State at Salina's technology management, electronic technology and computer engineering management, and mechanical engineering technology bachelor's degrees. The addition of Cowley's mechatronics program also precipitated additional conversation on collaboration between the two schools.

"This is an excellent opportunity, not just for Cowley students, but for Kansas State University as a whole," said John DeLeon, head of K-State at Salina's department of engineering technology. "I believe we're providing a pathway that is very much needed in this state and in the nation."

Dixie Schierlman, associate dean of student life and director of college advancement at K-State at Salina, said it is part of a Kansas Board of Regents' initiative to have community colleges and universities collaborate more.

"We are really looking forward to working with Cowley because they have so many programs and associate degrees that fit right into our engineering technology programs and technology management degree," she said.

Dennis Kuhlman, dean of K-State at Salina, said the partnership will result in a higher skill level base for the technical careers of the future.

"When we can partner and leverage our strengths from both sides to enhance opportunities for students the long-term impact is a stronger economy for the state of Kansas," he said. "It's a win-win all the way around."