Published May 14, 2020
Dodge City Community College (DC3) announced a new expanded schedule for its workforce development programs on Wednesday, May 13.
“Many of the changes to our tech ed course offerings have been revised to encourage high school enrollment,” Dr. Clayton Tatro, DC3 Vice President of Workforce Development, said. “And we are actually offering free tuition to high school juniors and seniors who enroll in our workforce development programs.”
In addition to the changes to high school tuition rates, DC3 is also offering special cohort enrollments that give high school and post-secondary students more flexibility in course offerings, such as morning, afternoon, and full-day options.
New tech ed programs available for Fall 2020 include electrical technology, climate and energy control technologies (HVAC), and health care technology.
“These new programs, like our existing programs, are open to both high school and post-secondary students,” Tatro said. “On the high school side alone, we anticipate an enrollment of more than 150 students in our various programs.”
In addition to the new workforce programs, DC3 is also expanding courses and programs housed in its Allied Health building. And the entire welding program is being revamped from top to bottom with new instructors and more flexible attendance options.
“I want to emphasize that the DC3 welding program is not being discontinued,” Dr. Clayton Tatro, DC3 Vice President of Workforce Development, said. “We are actually increasing the number of welding classes that we offer, and the Fall welding schedule is available on the DC3 website. Any suggestion or rumor that we are closing the program is blatantly false.”
Among the many changes and improvements to DC3’s workforce development programs is the relocation of the registered nurse (RN) classes to the former USD No. 443 Learning Center Space (which is adjacent to Waters True Value) at 308 W. Frontview St. This move will increase the offerings for RN classes and also help make room for additional courses and programs in the Allied Health building.
“We’ve also purchased two day-cab semi-tractors for our CDL program,” Tatro said. “This program, like our allied health, cosmetology and welding programs, also will see expansion in Fall 2020.”
“Dodge City Community College has developed a long-range strategic plan to address the needs of our current and future students. This plan addresses student recruitment and retention, course offerings, programs, services and community needs,” Dr. Harold Nolte, DC3 President, said. “Our current expansion of technical education programs is a great of example of where we are going as a college. Our overall goal is to meet our students and community where they are. In order to do that, we have to make some changes, and that is exactly what we are doing.”
By Lance Ziesch