By Matt Browning
The WSU Tech Foundation had many accomplishments in 2019, filled with many opportunities to support the Wichita-area community.
The Wichita Promise scholarship awarded over $415,000 to 291 students in 2019 alone. Since its inception in the Fall of 2016, the program has awarded nearly $1.5 million in scholarships to 885 students.
“If you have been laid off because of the production suspension, WSU Tech is in your corner with short-term and flexible- and most important- tuition-fee training,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, WSU Tech President. “We have built these training opportunities with the laid-off worker in mind with short-term half-day classes so people can re-skill or finish their degree.”
In addition to the Wichita Promise, the college received $100,000 from the band Metallica to train women in manufacturing careers. Of the 32 students enrolled, only three have not completed the program.
“We have just been informed that we are receiving a second Metallica grant for $50,000 in 2020,” said Gayle Goetz, Director, Community Advancement. “The second round of Metallica Scholars program will focus on bringing underrepresented populations and disadvantaged individuals, such as those living in high poverty areas, into technical education programs, like Machining Technology, Welding Technology, Automotive Service Technology, Climate & Energy Control (HVAC), Construction Science/Carpentry, Information Technology, and Industrial Automation Machine Maintenance Technology.”
WSU Tech also initiated a series of monthly Community Campus Tours to share information with the community about the industry leading, life-changing programs offered at WSU Tech.
Utash was also part of 25 leaders appointed to the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board to work alongside leaders from companies such as Apple, Walmart and IBM. Utash was able to bring U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ivanka Trump to Wichita where they toured the NCAT campus and visited Textron Aviation.
Trump had these words for what WSU Tech is doing for the community.
“What you are doing here really raises the bar for all of us and for educators across the country,” Trump said at the conclusion of a roundtable discussion on skills training at WSU Tech.
WSU Tech has created an opportunity for those affected by recent layoff announcements.
The Wichita Promise Scholarship will pay tuition and fees for eligible classes and programs aimed at either helping individuals learn a new skill, add on to their existing skill set or finish their associate degree.
“If you’ve been laid off because of product suspension, WSU Tech is in your corner with short-term and flexible—the most important—tuition-free training,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, WSU Tech President. “We’ve built these training opportunities with the laid-off worker in mind with short-term, half-day classes so people can upskill, re-skill or finish their degree.”
Classes start as early as March with most reskill classes completed in six to eight weeks and the schedules are only half-day. Additionally, WSU Tech provides personal career coaching by WSU Tech’s Career Services department.
“We understand that each person’s story is different and so we’re encouraging individuals to come in, tell us what they need and let us see how we can help them achieve their goals,” Utash said. “We are addressing concerns on an individual basis.”
The scholarship is being offered through internal budgeting at WSU Tech as well as community partner donations, such as the recent Wichita Aero Club $10,000 gift.
If interested, people may call WSU Tech or email [email protected] to set up a time to come to the National Center for Aviation Training to speak with an advisor. Throughout the next few weeks, WSU Tech will also be holding information sessions.
“Our understanding is that because March 10 is the end of the WARN notice for workers laid off from Spirit AeroSystems, those workers will get their last paycheck on March 26 so this is a good thing for those who want to pursue additional skills,” said Keith Lawing, President and CEO of Workforce Alliance. “And of those workers who filled out a survey after the Rapid Response sessions, more than a third said they wanted to pursue additional training or school when asked about future employment plans.”
