TEA committee places WSU Tech heavy-equipment and masonry programs on consent agenda, approves Promise Act eligibility

The Technical Education Authority committee on Jan. 8 reviewed WSU Tech proposals to offer a Cert B and an Associate of Applied Science in heavy-equipment operation and masonry construction and placed both items on the consent agenda for the full authority.

Sharman, a KBOR staff member presenting the proposals, said WSU Tech’s heavy-equipment operator program would be 35 credit hours for a Cert B and 60 credit hours for an AAS and was scheduled to start next fall. Sharman cited labor-market data showing the occupation ranks 71 out of 796 statewide for demand and that the typical advertised median salary was about $45,600. She said the institution submitted three letters of support and estimated start-up costs at roughly $41,000: $1,000 for instructional supplies and $40,000 to cover half of an existing full-time faculty position.

“We would stand for questions,” Sharman said after outlining the program and the timeline for review, and WSU Tech representatives answered committee members’ technical questions.

Jennifer Seymour, vice president for general education and applied technologies at WSU Tech, said the college “have room and capacity there to also educate some adults” at the Southeast Kansas CTEC site while continuing instruction for high school students.

Jesse Lane, dean for applied technologies at WSU Tech, told the committee that employer partners emphasized practical skill and equipment safety over a single, prescriptive credential. “They are more considered concerned with the skill set than the certifications,” Lane said, describing why WSU Tech is leaning on NCCER curriculum as a core while emphasizing OSHA 10 and hands-on equipment experience for operator training.

Committee members asked whether NCCER credentials should be listed on the Excel and CTE reporting lists so students’ work would be counted. Lane replied that many employers prioritize demonstrable equipment operation and safety experience rather than a particular carpentry-oriented NCCER credential for entry-level equipment operators.

On masonry, Sharman described a Cert B at 38 credits and an AAS at 68 credits, cited statewide job-posting data (median advertised wage about $54,070) and four letters of support, and said WSU Tech worked closely with Fort Scott Community College to effect a seamless transition of the program and faculty.

Chair Mike moved to approve both WSU Tech program applications and place them on the committee’s consent agenda; a second was recorded and the motions carried by voice vote. The committee also approved a Promise Act scholarship eligibility request for both programs, with Sharman noting that heavy equipment met the statute’s “high demand, high wage” test and masonry met the “high wage” test. The voice-vote tallies and any named roll-call votes were not specified in the committee record.

The committee asked that the full TEA receive background on the WSU Tech–CTEC relationship at the authority’s Jan. 22 in-person meeting at KBOR. Pending placement on and approval of the consent agenda at that meeting, the programs would proceed to the wider authority for final action.