With enrollment increasing for existing programs, a new program set to launch and another in the early research stages, there is a notable question for administrators of Flint Hills Technical College: where does everything go?
The college is awaiting final approval for its early childhood development program from the Kansas Board of Regents. If that happens, the program could begin this fall.
Also, the college is looking at developing an agriculture program and will have an ag summit the morning of Feb. 3 as that process continues.
On KVOE’s latest Tech Talk program, College President Caron Daugherty said space concerns are the biggest challenge to adding programs. A task force is studying all the connected issues at this time.
Vice President of Student Services Lisa Kirmer and Vice President for Advancement Mike Crouch are leading the task force.
The college has several hubs in Emporia — its main campus at 3301 West 18th, the Adult Education Center at 620 Constitution, the Humanitarian Center operations at 215 West Sixth and the South Campus at 3701 West Sixth. Several faculty have expressed a desire to have one college campus, although early thoughts indicate an ag program may have to be at a separate location — and a one-campus approach may not work on West Sixth because of floodplain concerns. The college also has to consider possible land acquisition matters if the one-campus concept moves forward.
Flint Hills Technical College also has facilities in Garnett and is working to expand its presence in Coffey County.
Enrollment and headcount took a step back during the COVID-19 pandemic but increased this past fall, with a 13-percent increase in full-time-equivalent students and a nearly 18-percent increase in overall headcount.
