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DC3 Signs MOU with K-State for Bachelor’s Degree Access

Published October 2, 2025

DC3 and K-State are teaming up to expand bachelor’s degree pathways for southwest Kansas students through a new collaborative initiative, which was formalized in a memorandum-of-understanding signing ceremony in the DC3 Student Union Board Room on Sept. 25. Pictured (from left to right) are Dr. Marshall Stewart, K-State Executive Vice President for External Engagement and Chief of Staff; U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann; State Sen. Ron Ryckman; Bill Turley, DC3 Board of Trustees; Dr. Dan Moser, K-State Interim Eldon Gideon Dean of the College of Agriculture; Dr. Adam John, DC3 Provost; Dr. Harold Nolte, DC3 President; Dr. Richard Linton, K-State President; Dr. Jesse Perez Mendez, K-State Provost and Executive Vice President; Annel Gonzales, DC3 Teacher Education Program Coordinator; Kristin Holt, K-State Executive Assistant to the President; Thomas Smith, DC3 Agriculture and Farm/Ranch Coordinator; Diana Mendoza, Kansas Board of Regents Vice-Chair; and State Rep. Lon Pishny. ­[Photo by Lance Ziesch]

Thanks to a new agreement between two leaders in Kansas higher education, students in Dodge City and southwest Kansas will have expanded access to the transformative power of a bachelor’s degree—all from the comfort and support of their hometown region.

Combining the breadth and depth of a traditional four-year university with the homegrown reach and accessibility of a two-year community college, Kansas State University (K-State) and Dodge City Community College (DC3) are collaborating to expand access to bachelor’s degree programs in agriculture and education.

Formalized during a special Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ceremony at DC3 on Sept. 25, the new three-year collaboration will run through July 31, 2028. As part of the agreement, K-State will provide DC3 with $100,000 annually for faculty positions—$50,000 designated for agriculture and $50,000 for education.

Students in the program will enroll and take the first 60 to 75 credit hours of their four-year degrees through DC3. After that, they can remain at home and complete their bachelor’s degrees with K-State courses using a combination of remote instruction and on-site lab experiences in Dodge City, which will offer students better flexibility and alignment with local workforce demands in fields such as agriculture, education, and health and human sciences.

K-State President Dr. Richard Linton said that K-State has a responsibility to meet the needs of communities across all 105 Kansas counties, and this new collaboration with DC3 is a strong example of fulfilling that mission.

“Both Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University share the same values and purpose: to provide opportunities for people in Kansas and beyond,” Linton said. “Through this collaboration between two-year and four-year degree programs, we’re creating multiple pathways and options for any Kansas student who wants to pursue higher education.”

At the MOU signing ceremony, K-State Provost Dr. Jesse Perez Mendez said the new agreement will also help transfer students close the “access gap” between two- and four-year institutions.

“As we grow the next generation of changemakers for the world, we have to meet Kansans where they’re at and with what they need,” Perez Mendez said. “Community colleges like DC3 open doors, and land-grant universities like K-State help expand those opportunities. Together, we’re building brighter pathways for Kansas students.”

Through the course of the agreement, the colleges will explore interests in additional program offerings, based on community surveys and regional industry needs. And K-State representatives, serving as transfer navigators, will also regularly work with DC3 students to explore transfer opportunities and support resources after they’ve completed their community college programs.

DC3 President Dr. Harold Nolte said he is excited to collaborate with K-State through the new initiative.

“At Dodge City Community College, we are always looking for ways to better serve our students, and this program is a great example,” Nolte said. “By allowing our transfer students to stay in the community while completing their four-year degrees, we’re helping them save both time and money. And in many cases, they’ll also be able to continue working in our local economy as they finish their studies.”

By Lance Ziesch
DC3 Director of Marketing and Public Relations