A group of five area colleges have announced a new partnership called Educate the State aimed at positively impacting the current teacher shortage in Kansas.

The new public-private agreement brings together Cowley College, Butler Community College, Friends University, Newman University, and Southwestern College. By working together, the institutions have created a seamless and more affordable transfer option for Secondary Education majors. 

CAPTION--The presidents of five area college’s announced a partnership called Educate the State.  Signing the agreement were (from L-R) Michelle Schoon, president of Cowley College; Kim Krull, president of Butler Community College; Elizabeth Frombgen, president of Southwestern College; Amy Bragg Carey, president of Friends University; and Kathleen Jagger, president of Newman University.

In 2022, the Kansas Independent Colleges Association (KICA) announced a global transfer for any Kansas community college graduate earning an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree to transfer as a junior status directly to any Kansas private university.

Educate the State takes it a step further as these institutions also guarantee a lower tuition rate at the private university level for those wanting to become K-12 teachers.

Tuition per credit hour is discounted to $300 per credit hour at the university level for Educate the State students.

How to Access Educate the State:

1. Earn a Secondary Education associate degree from Butler or Cowley with a 2.75 minimum GPA.
2. Transfer to Friends, Newman or Southwestern based on subject matter emphasis as a full-time Secondary Education major.
3. Receive the discounted $300 tuition rate for final two years regardless of the four-year institution selected.

Cowley Secondary Education Pathways for Educate the State:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education – Math (AS)
• Secondary Education – Science (AS)
• Secondary Education – Language Arts (AA)

Butler Secondary Education Pathways for Educate the State:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education (AA)
• Secondary Education Science (AS)

“Educate the State gives Cowley College students an affordable option to pursue a degree in secondary education at one of three high-quality private institutions,” Cowley College president Michelle Schoon said. “This partnership provides opportunities for our students to stay local and fill the shortage of educators in our region.”

Cowley College and Butler Community College students can go on to enroll in the following Secondary Education Pathways at Southwestern College:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education – Math (AS)
• Secondary Education – Science (AS)
• Secondary Education – Language Arts (AA) 

Southwestern College president Elizabeth Frombgen says this is a great way to serve the state of Kansas.

“Since our founding in 1885, Southwestern College has proudly prepared and educated teachers who have gone on to serve students and communities all across Kansas,” said Frombgen. “Through cooperative initiatives such as Educate the State we will leverage incentives and partnerships to attract more young people to the vocation of teaching and in doing so we will better serve our communities, and more broadly, Kansas.”

Learn more about Educate the State

Southwestern College is a private liberal arts college, founded in 1885 by Methodists in south-central Kansas. Today its Winfield campus is the residential hub that guides students to lives of meaning and service, with well-rounded academic and extra-curricular offerings attracting traditional-aged students from throughout the nation and world. Southwestern College Professional Studies provides options for online students in any location and has been named a top provider for persons serving in the military. The college continues to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Visit sckans.edu for more.

Cowley College was founded in 1922 and has a rich history of providing quality education for over a century with multiple campuses located in Arkansas City, Mulvane, Wellington, Wichita, and Winfield Kansas. Cowley College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a wide range of academic programs, including associate degrees, technical certificates, and workforce development courses, catering to various career paths and interests. Visit cowley.edu for more information.