FSCC Board approves new programs

New program curriculums were unanimously approved by the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees during Monday night's regular meeting.

The programs will need to be approved by the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Education before the school can officially implement them. According to information made available to the board, the programs, Hospitality Management and Personal Fitness Trainer, were "specifically requested by school superintendents and industry partners in our service area."

FSCC President Clayton Tatro, said Hospitality Management is currently in high demand.

"We're excited to bring new options to students, particularity in occupational programs," Tatro told The Tribune Monday night. "Those are both programs that have been requested and have a lot of student interest."

Tatro said these programs will help the school capitalize on Senate Bill 155 (SB 155).

According to http://www.kslegislature.org, a piece of SB 155 "requires the State Board of Regents to establish a career technical education incentive program, which will award $1,000, subject to appropriation, to a school district for each high school graduate who graduates from that district with an industry- recognized credential in a high-need occupation, as identified by the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the State Board of Regents and the State Board.

"The bill allows the State Board of Regents to adopt rules and regulations necessary to administer the program. A school district must reimburse a pupil who has not obtained a high school diploma and is currently or previously was enrolled in a career technical education course or program in the district an amount up to half of the cost of the industry-recognized credential assessment (assessment). This reimbursement will be taken out of the $1,000 incentive award to the school district."

FSCC Dean of Instruction Regena Lance said she wrote "pieces" of the curriculum for the programs. The Hospitality Management program, which requires 35 credit hours of concentration requirements, would award an Associate in Applied Science degree.

"For the students here on campus, it's going to give them another program and another opportunity to pursue something that they're interested in," Lance told The Tribune.

Some of the classes in the Hospitality Management program include: basic and advanced food preparation, quantity food production, food and beverage purchasing and professional cooking I-IV.

"It's an excellent opportunity for students," Lance said. "I see both of them being great assets, even for southeast Kansas, because there's certain programs that don't benefit you to stay in this area -- but both of those programs would be very beneficial to stay in this area."

The Personal Fitness Trainer program requires 37 hours of concentration requirements, and would also award an Associate in Applied Science after successful completion of the curriculum.

"It's very similar to athletic training, but, they can have their own fitness business, be a personal trainer," Lance said.

Tatro said these programs would be offered at various off-campus locations as well.

"We offer programing through the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (in Topeka)," Tatro said. "And there's a definite interest and need for the personal fitness trainer up there. So we'll probably be putting that program up there after it's been approved."

Lance said no timetable has been established for implementation of the programs.

More on Monday night's board meeting will appear in a future edition of The Tribune.