‘Four-year educational desert’ no more: K-State, GCCC partner to offer bachelor's degrees in southwest Kansas
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024
From left: Kansas State University Provost and Executive Vice President Jesse Perez Mendez and President Richard Linton sign the official memorandum of understanding with Garden City Community College President Ryan Ruda and Vice President for Instructional Services and Chief Academic Officer Marc Malone on Dec. 11 at Garden City Community College. | Download this photo.
GARDEN CITY and MANHATTAN, Kan. — In an innovative educational partnership, Garden City Community College and Kansas State University are joining forces to make bachelor’s degree programs available to students in southwest Kansas without requiring them to relocate.
This collaboration will allow students to complete their education locally, addressing a critical need in a region where only 17.9% of residents hold a four-year degree compared to the state average of 33.9%.
The new initiative enables students to complete their first 60 to 75 credit hours at GCCC before finishing their bachelor’s degrees with K-State, right in Garden City. Programs will combine remote instruction with on-site lab experiences, offering flexibility and alignment with local workforce demands in fields like agriculture, education, and health and human sciences.
"At Kansas State University, our land-grant mission is to put education within reach for all Kansans, no matter where they live or what their background may be," said Kansas State University President Richard Linton. "This partnership with Garden City Community College is a powerful step in making higher education a reality for the hardworking people of southwest Kansas. By bringing high-quality bachelor’s degree programs right in Kansans’ hometowns, we’re not only offering the opportunity to earn a degree, but also empowering a brighter future for the community and, ultimately, the entire state of Kansas."
The partnership will initially work to develop a new bachelor’s degree through K-State’s College of Agriculture. The degree program will be for students with an associate degree, allowing specialization in areas such as animal science, crop science or agribusiness.
GCCC and K-State will soon launch a community survey to shape additional program offerings based on regional industry needs.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to meeting the educational needs of southwest Kansas," GCCC President Ryan Ruda said. "By enabling bachelor’s degree completion right here in Garden City, we’re offering students a unique chance to advance their careers while staying rooted in their communities. Together, Garden City Community College and Kansas State University are creating pathways to build and retain a skilled workforce, strengthening Garden City and the entire southwest Kansas region."
Creating opportunity for Kansans by ensuring access to education is critical to K-State's mission to lead as a next-generation land-grant university. This new partnership meets students where they are and educates and trains tomorrow's workforce to contribute to economic development at the local and state level.
By working together, both institutions are leveraging GCCC’s 105-year legacy of high-quality education in certificates and associate degrees and K-State’s expertise in four-year and advanced degree programs. As both institutions respond to the needs of regional employers, they are empowering students to thrive locally and contribute to their communities. The new bachelor’s degree options will offer completion paths in programs not currently available in Garden City through other universities, ensuring local students have access to broader educational opportunities close to home.
Local leaders praised the collaboration for its potential to elevate the region’s educational and economic landscape.
Lona Duvall, president and CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corporation:
"Expanding access to four-year degree programs in Southwest Kansas through this partnership between Garden City Community College and Kansas State University is a significant step forward for our region. By bringing advanced education directly to our communities, we are not only filling a critical educational gap but also enhancing economic development. This initiative will help us build a skilled workforce that supports local businesses, attracts new industries, and empowers individuals to pursue rewarding careers without leaving the area. This collaboration is a transformative opportunity for Garden City and the entire Southwest Kansas region. We appreciate the hard work put in by Kansas State University, Garden City Community College, and FCEDC’s other member entities to make this project a reality. We look forward to taking the next steps in this exciting journey."
Gerry Schultz, chair of the Finney County Commission:
"This partnership between Garden City Community College and Kansas State University aligns to the county mission of being dedicated to our citizens and serving taxpayers. This is a good strategic opportunity to provide advanced degree completion in Finney County and be able to retain the talent pipeline in the region for the economy."
Garden City Mayor Manuel Ortiz:
"Southwest Kansas has been a four-year educational desert for far too long. Recent strategic efforts by the community in partnership with the outstanding leadership at Garden City Community College are now bringing in-person baccalaureate degree options to our communities. Today marks a significant milestone in our community’s progress toward achieving ambitious goals. Kansas State University having a physical presence in Garden City and southwest Kansas validates the importance of southwest Kansans, especially our youngest and brightest citizens, to the rest of the state. I’d like to thank Kansas State University President Linton and Provost and Executive Vice President Jesse Perez Mendez for their courage to put the bold vision of Kansas State University into action. These great leaders and this great institution aren’t just writing fancy words in a strategic plan. They say it, mean it and are doing it."
Marc Malone, GCCC’s vice president for instructional services and chief academic officer:
"As students move from the freshman and sophomore years into junior and senior years, their courses get increasingly specific and targeted toward their field of study. That focus and specialization is meaningful to student development and is needed in the southwest Kansas workforce. I’m thrilled to add K-State as a partner in the fields within this agreement."
