News

Due to winter weather, our Goodland & Quinter locations will be closed Jan. 6

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December 18, 2024 (Goodland, KS)  -  Fort Hays Tech | Northwest is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation. This seed funding will enable the college to launch an innovative home-building initiative in Goodland, KS, designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities and sustainable housing for the community.

Goodland, KS (November 19, 2024) — The Engineering Technology program at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest successfully hosted its annual haunted house event on Friday, November 1st, and Saturday, November 2nd, raising funds and collecting food for Genesis of Sherman County, a local food bank. Over two nights of spooky thrills, 801 patrons came through the haunted house, which was designed, built, and operated by students in the Engineering Technology program.

Thanks to the community’s support, the event raised over $2,000 in cash donations and collected more than 12 crates of food for the food bank. In a show of community solidarity, Miller Construction Services matched the funds raised on the second night of the event and made an additional donation to Genesis of Sherman County.

Michael Zimmerman, Engineering Technology Instructor at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest, expressed his pride in the students’ efforts. "Every year, the students do a great job putting the haunted house together and providing a fun activity for community members to enjoy. Genesis of Sherman County helps to support a large number of families in our community, and we are glad that we can use this event to join in on that effort."

Zimmerman also highlighted the special partnership with Miller Construction Services, saying, "This year was special with the additional support coming from Miller Construction Services. We want to extend a huge thanks to them for joining in on the effort to give back to the community."

The haunted house event would not have been possible without the generous support of local businesses, who donated funds earlier in the semester to help build the haunted house. These contributions played a critical role in bringing the students’ creative vision to life. The department extends its heartfelt thanks to all the local businesses who supported this year’s event.

Additionally, a special thank you goes to Sherman County for allowing the use of the animal barn at the fairgrounds as the venue for the haunted house each year. The space provides a perfect setting for the event, and the collaboration with the county was invaluable.

The haunted house is part of the Engineering Technology program’s commitment to providing students with hands-on learning opportunities while giving back to the local community. The success of this year’s event showcases the power of collaboration and the impact that students, businesses, and local residents can have when they come together for a good cause.

About Fort Hays Tech | Northwest:

Fort Hays Tech | Northwest offers a range of technical programs designed to prepare students for careers in high-demand fields. The Engineering Technology program provides students with the skills needed for success in a variety of engineering and manufacturing industries, emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world applications. For more information about Fort Hays Tech | Northwest, visit www.fhnw.edu

About Genesis of Sherman County:

Genesis of Sherman County is a local nonprofit organization that works to fight hunger in the community by providing food assistance to families in need. Through donations, fundraising events, and community partnerships, Genesis aims to alleviate food insecurity in the Sherman County area.

Students from the Engineering Technology Program, along with Janelle Miller from Miller Construction Services present their donation to Genesis of Sherman County.

Students work to organize and sort donated food from the haunted house at Genisis’ food pantry

By FHSU University Communications

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University, Fort Hays Tech | North Central, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest recently secured a $461,840 grant from Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to help fund start-up costs associated with the implementation of the three institutions’ strategic affiliation. Grant funding will be distributed over the next two years. 

Higher Learning Commission approves historic education affiliation

HAYS, Kan – June 27 represents a significant milestone for higher education in rural Kansas, as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) officially approved the Change of Control application filed jointly by Fort Hays State University, North Central Kansas Technical College, and Northwest Kansas Technical College. This approval will result in the strategic affiliation of these three institutions, allowing them to come together under the Fort Hays banner to better serve the region’s people, businesses, and communities. FHSU President Mason expressed her gratitude for the support received from various stakeholders in finalizing this affiliation plan.

Under this new affiliation, North Central Kansas Technical College will become Fort Hays Tech | North Central. Northwest Kansas Technical College will be renamed Fort Hays Tech | Northwest. The Higher Learning Commission's comprehensive assessment process included a thorough evaluation of academic offerings, governance, mission, finances, resources, and all degree levels offered by the institutions.

The vision of an affiliation between the three institutions emerged from discussions between President Mason, Fort Hays Tech | North Central President Eric Burks, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest President Ben Schears. Each of these leaders recognized the urgent need for higher education in rural Kansas to address significant and growing threats to the future prosperity of their shared service region. These threats include an aging population, an expected 15 percent decline in college-bound students by 2029, and a 33 percent decline in Kansas’s rural population by 2064.

“What an exciting time for our region and state! We know for rural Kansas to prosper, every individual must have the opportunity to develop their talents, skills, and interests,” Burks said. “By our three institutions working more closely together, we will be able to enhance our current offerings, simplify our process, and create new opportunities to prepare students and generate workforce for our area businesses and communities.”

With the HLC's approval in place, over 20 affiliation implementation teams are now tasked with integrating and optimizing various aspects of the institutions to serve students, businesses, and communities better.

“Our work in the days ahead will focus on integrating our academic programs and student services and on expanding our already robust industry and community connections to increase opportunities for our students, fueling entrepreneurship in rural Kansas, and meeting the workforce needs of the businesses and communities we serve,” Schears said.

A series of “Affiliation Launch” events are scheduled in the hometowns of each of the three campuses. The first event will be at the old soccer field on the campus of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest (Goodland) at 5 p.m. on September 10. The downtown pavilion in Hays will be the site of launch event number two on September 12. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a “ribbon cutting” hosted by the Hays Chamber. Fort Hays Tech | North Central will host the final event at 5 p.m. on September 14 in downtown Beloit. These events will celebrate the historic partnership and allow the community to learn more about the future of higher education in rural Kansas.

For more information about this transformative affiliation partnership, please visit Fort Hays Tech | Northwest

http://www.fhnw.edu/affiliation

Fort Hays State University

https://www.fhsu.edu/president/affiliation/.

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