Published September 4, 2019
Dodge City Community College President Dr. Harold Nolte and Garden City Community College President Ryan Ruda signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday that offers students in the DC3 service area a pathway to a career in fire science.
GCCC offers the only fire science program in western Kansas. Students from the DC3 area can take their general education courses through DC3 and fire science courses through Garden City. According to the MOU, Garden City will employ the instructors and adjuncts. GCCC has the option to teach classes in Garden City or Dodge City or both.
Ruda said the partnership is a smart way to address student needs.
“It’s important that we continue to look at these collaborations,” Ruda said, “especially with programs that are unique to each institution.”
Nolte said expanding certain “flagship” programs at which individual schools excel can help more efficiently meet the area’s workforce needs.
“A lot of states will flagship certain programs,” he said. “A school has a program they really shine at, so rather than compete for the same students, the schools cooperate and the programs that do well are able to flourish.”
GCCC signed a similar agreement with Colby Community College just last week.