Board approves Manhattan Area Technical College industrial machine technology program and Promise Act eligibility

The Board of Regents’ Technical Education Authority approved Manhattan Area Technical College’s proposal for an industrial machine technology program — including Technical Certification A, Technical Certification B and an associate of applied science — and voted to place the program on the consent agenda for eligibility under the Promise Act.

The program was presented by system staff and Manhattan Area Technical College representatives, who said the curriculum aligns with industrial machinery mechanics occupation codes and local employer demand tied to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the Biosecurity Research Institute. The authority approved the proposal by voice vote after a motion from member Cindy and a second from member Mark; at least five members voiced “aye” during the roll-call.

The authority’s staff summary said the program aligns to ONET occupation codes and Lightcast job-posting data, and that the occupation is listed as a high-demand, high-wage category in the Kansas Department of Labor report. Manhattan Area Technical College representatives told the committee the program grew out of an earlier industrial engineering technology offering and would replace that program if approved.

Manhattan Area Technical College estimated initial costs for the new program at $511,650, with funding sources listed as institutional general funds and student fees; the college said it was pursuing additional support from the Patterson Family Foundation and equipment support from Johnson Controls. The presenter also said Perkins funds were not applied for and that no letters of support from local high schools were provided; five letters of industry support were included with the application and the college reported conversations with Salina Area Technical College and Washburn Tech about collaboration.

During committee questions, a member asked whether an instructor is already in place; staff explained the industrial engineering technology faculty position would carry over to the restructured industrial maintenance/industrial machine technology program. Manhattan Area Technical College representatives also noted employer partnerships — including Michelin and local manufacturers — that have supported student hiring and internships.

The authority placed the program on the consent agenda for Promise Act consideration after confirming it meets the Promise Act requirement that the occupation be high-demand and high-wage per the Department of Labor report. The committee announced the program approved and moved on to other agenda items.

Details that were not specified in the meeting transcript include a full roll-call tally for every voting member and the exact amount and source breakdown for the college’s earlier State Department of Commerce grant referenced in discussion.