KBOR > News > 2005 > Release

June 13, 2005

BOARD OF REGENTS AWARDS LEADERSHIP GRANTS

(TOPEKA) – Today the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) announced seven grant awards intended to encourage, expand and improve workforce education and economic development in Kansas. Barton County Community College, Flint Hills Technical College, Fort Scott Community College, Manhattan Area Technical College, Pratt Community College and Wichita Area Technical College were selected from 30 eligible Kansas community colleges, technical colleges and technical schools. Grant selection was based on the merits of proposals submitted to KBOR that would enhance the areas of career and technical education by either serving as a demonstration site or as a statewide/regional model.

“I am pleased to recognize the innovative proposals submitted by these six institutions,” said Reginald Robinson, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. “These programs will truly enhance workforce and economic development efforts in Kansas and would not be possible without the continued federal funding and support of our state’s Congressional delegation.”

Barton County Community College was awarded $20,000 for its Midwest Utility and Pipeline Training Center. The College will expand partnerships to include the College’s pipeline and utility programs, regulatory agencies and industry counterparts to develop and train existing and emerging workers in the Kansas energy industry.

Flint Hills Technical College was awarded $5,000 for the expansion and statewide dissemination of a Health Occupations Technology (HOT) Program. The College will expand its HOT Program in order to introduce students to healthcare career opportunities and to empower them with the basic skills to gain entry-level employment.

Fort Scott Community College was awarded $45,000 to provide the clinical component for an online registered nursing program. The College will provide clinical experience to students completing the online nursing program. Project partners include Pratt Community College and the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

Fort Scott Community College was also awarded $15,000 for the development of a seamless curriculum structuring survey instrument. The College will conduct a comprehensive assessment of high school-level occupational programs available in southeast Kansas in order to improve the seamlessness between high school and postsecondary programs.

Manhattan Area Technical College was awarded $39,808 for its Kansas Construction Institute: An Apprentice Instruction Program. The College will pilot a work-based learning program in electrical, plumbing and construction which will serve as a demonstration for future statewide implementation.

Pratt Community College was awarded $90,000 for workforce development for oil and gas field operations. The College will lead an effort to provide workforce training for the state’s oil and gas industry. Project partners include the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, Fort Scott Community College, Barton County Community College and Seward County Community College.

Wichita Area Technical College was awarded $60,000 for the design, development and deployment of a statewide technical education curriculum. The project will align the state’s technical curriculum in order to assist students as they compare statewide technical education programs or transfer from one institution to another as well as improve technical education programs.

KBOR annually awards leadership grants to postsecondary institutions through a competitive process designed to identify innovative projects that impact workforce education and economic development. The grants are made possible by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, a federal program that was established to assist with improving student achievement as well as preparing students for learning through educational reform, innovations and continuous improvement in career and technical education.

The KBOR Office of Career and Technical Education assists the 30 postsecondary institutions benefiting from Carl D. Perkins funding with federal and state compliance issues, continuous improvement through data-based decision making and professional development to encourage and enhance innovative career and technical educational programming to meet the needs of the communities they serve and the state of Kansas.

For more information contact:
Kip Peterson, Director for Government Relations & Communications, at (785) 296-3421.

Visit the Kansas Board of Regents on the Web at www.kansasregents.org.