By K-State Division of Communications and Marketing and Madilyn Limberg, GCCC executive director of marketing and public relations,
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.
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.