Regents committee advances four CTE programs and reclassifies Photoshop courses for AY2028

The Board of Regents Program and Curriculum Committee on May 14 reviewed several career and technical education proposals and voted, by voice consent, to place four program actions and a course reclassification on the consent agenda.

Sharman, a presenter for the committee, summarized Colby Community College’s request to add a 62‑credit associate of applied science in welding to its existing certificate offerings and to deliver the program inside the Norton and Hutchinson correctional facilities in partnership with the Kansas Department of Corrections. Sharman said Colby included employer letters of support from Glassman Corporation and Hess Services and estimated an additional annual cost of $10,400 for part‑time adjunct faculty. A Colby representative thanked the committee for reviewing the proposal and said the availability of laptops in the facilities has expanded opportunities to offer general‑education courses. “We’re pretty excited to expand more offerings as KDOC is excited to allow us to do that,” the representative said.

The committee also reviewed Fort Scott Community College’s proposal for a new 16‑credit pharmacy technician certificate (Cert A). Sharman said the program is a single‑pathway curriculum intended for traditional, nontraditional and high‑school students; cited a 10‑year occupational outlook and an annual median wage of $39,210; and estimated implementation costs slightly above $5,000 (about $2,000 equipment, $1,000 tools and supplies, $500 instructional materials and $1,650 for one part‑time faculty position). A Fort Scott speaker emphasized the college’s goal of expanding opportunities beyond its current CNA offerings for local students.

Garden City Community College’s proposed Cert A in unmanned aircraft systems was presented as a response to documented regional employer demand. Sharman said limited federal occupational data required relying on employer partners; Garden City reported an estimated annual median wage of $70,760 and projected implementation costs of roughly $56,250, including $40,000 for one existing full‑time faculty position. Sharman noted letters of support from local employers and collaborations with other institutions.

For each of the above proposals, the chair asked for questions; none were raised. Committee members moved and seconded motions to place the items on the consent agenda, and the motions were considered approved by voice consent.

Sharman also presented two Fort Scott items related to the Promise scholarship and Excel/CTE fee designation. Natalie Clark moved to certify Fort Scott’s pharmacy technician program as eligible for the Promise scholarship and place that item on the consent agenda; the motion was seconded and approved. Separately, committee members approved (by voice consent) Excel and CTE fee designation for Fort Scott’s pharmacy technician program.

On a separate agenda item, Sharman recommended reclassifying a deck of digital imaging and Photoshop courses from tiered to non‑tiered effective academic year 2028. Sharman said the recommendation rests on the statutory decision tree provided in the packet and institution‑level data showing widespread general‑education use across many associate degrees. Cindy moved the reclassification and Deb seconded; the motion was approved by voice consent.

The committee also received a brief update on TEA goals for 2025–26. Sharman reported resumed performance reviews for programs and curriculum (goal 3) and said the full TEA will revisit goals at the May 28 meeting. Staff noted that implementation of recommendations from the Excel and CTE task force is underway and will involve the budget and finance committee where appropriate.

The chair closed the meeting by reminding members the next full authority meeting is May 28 (in‑person), thanked the participating community colleges for their proposals, and adjourned the committee with no further action recorded.