Just two days after signing a new two-plus-two articulation agreement for students in the Flint Hills Technical College Graphic Arts Technology program, FHTC and Emporia State University leadership convened Thursday morning for another signing, this time joined by representatives of Newman Regional Health.
The signing, held at the ESU Nursing and Student Wellness Center, saw leadership from all three institutions sign a Memorandum of Understanding that declared each entity’s commitment to working collaboratively to support workforce stability and provide responsible program growth, among other initiatives.
ESU President Matthew Baker stated in his remarks that there are always challenges on the horizon and we do not always see them coming. The signing of the MOU, in his opinion, will create a stronger unit that can weather those oncoming storms, saying, “We are stronger together.”
Baker also noted that when it comes to specifics of the MOU, it is essentially codifying many of the things the institutions have already been doing for years prior.
While some challenges are unknown, as stated by Baker, there are those that are front and center. For FHTC President Dr. Caron Daugherty, one of the greatest challenges in recent memory has been continuity when it comes to education translating to job placement, something she says the MOU is helping to bridge.
For Newman CEO Cathy Pimple, Thursday’s signing is a demonstration of each organization’s dedication to fulfilling a responsibility she says comes with serving a rural community.
As for the major benefits, Pimple says increased resources, sharing of staff and additional opportunities for students are at the forefront of mind.
As mentioned, Thursday’s signing followed a similar ceremony at the FHTC conference room Tuesday, where Baker and Daugherty affixed their signatures to a two-plus-two articulation agreement that will allow FHTC Graphic Arts Technology students to directly transfer to ESU following the completion of their two-year certificate or associate’s degree. Baker and Daugherty have both stated that more agreements of this nature are in the works, with details coming in the near future.
