On Wednesday, the Kansas Board of Regents read a first draft of proposed legislation that would allow for the merger of Wichita State University and Wichita Area Technical College.
Under the proposal, Wichita Area Technical College would become the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology. The new affiliate would maintain WATC’s open admissions policy and separate tuition structure. Students enrolled in the program could live on the Wichita State campus and current WATC staff would become WSU employees.
Wichita State President John Bardo told regents that the merger will help to keep Kansas competitive.
“What this affiliation does is allow us to plan together, to work together, to meet the needs of Sedgwick County," Bardo said. "And because [Sedgwick County] is such a large part of the state's economy, to have a real impact on the entire state.”
Sheree Utash, president of Wichita Area Technical College, said the schools can make existing partnerships more effective by uniting.
“WSU and WATC already have strong partnerships, including the National Center for Aviation Training and the Shocker Pathways program," she said. "South Central Kansas industry businesses are looking to our two institutions to provide the workforce for the future of our region."
If the state Legislature and Board of Regents approve the proposal, it will then go before the Higher Learning Commission, which is the accrediting body for both schools. If the commission approves the merger, the Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology could begin operating as part of WSU in 2018. The combination will only move forward if existing WATC funding sources, such as federal and state funding for technical education, can be maintained.
The board will consider authorizing the draft at its January meeting.
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