Wichita Area Technical College is opening a new location in Old Town in the former home of Airbus Engineering at 213 N. Mead. The space will be shared with Wichita State University’s Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy programs. It will be the fourth WATC campus in the Wichita area.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, Jan. 31, with members from WATC, WSU and Key Construction present.
Sheree Utash, president of WATC said in a statement she hopes the move will be a catalyst for continued growth by providing opportunities for students to seek education in the downtown area.
"It is the mission of WATC to work with our [health care] community in Wichita to provide trained and qualified workers," she said.
She said the location will not only allow students and faculty of both WATC and WSU the chance to work side by side; it also brings the opportunity to leverage the resources and equipment of both institutions.
WATC plans to move several of its health care programs to the site, including Practical Nurse, Surgical Technology, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding, Certified Nurse Aide, Certified Medication Aide and Home Health Aide.
Pam Doyle, chief academic officer of general education and health science, said in the statement she's looking forward to bringing both schools health care programs to the heart of Wichita.
"The space has been designed to accommodate the specific needs of the programs and to create a dynamic learning environment for students," Doyle says. "We are particularly excited to have a state-of-the-art simulation hospital where students will practice their skills in a realistic setting with the latest medical simulation technology.”
The school plans to offer classes at the Old Town location starting this fall.
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