Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued a proclamation identifying April 17-23 as Kansas Private College week in the state of Kansas.

The governor’s proclamation offers a good occasion for some thoughts and information about higher education in the state of Kansas and the role played by Southwestern College and the 17 other independent colleges and universities that form the Kansas Independent College Association.

The independent colleges, not-for-profit fully accredited colleges, have for decades been an integral part of the state’s higher education system, consistently enrolling about 20% of students attending four-year colleges, and graduating 20% of the bachelors students and 29% of the masters level students.

“There are 18 private colleges in Kansas, enrolling 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year; and there are over 200,000 living alums—half of whom live and work in Kansas; and among these alums are some of the state’s most important civic, business, and cultural leaders,” Brownback says.

“Kansas has first-rate higher education opportunities for students of all ages, both in the public and private sectors,” says Doug Penner, president of the Kansas Independent College Association.  “Citizens should take pride in and continue to support this diverse and robust network of pathways to personal achievement and to a healthy, thriving social order.  April 17 to 23, Kansas Private College Week, is an opportunity to recognize again one small but very productive sector of the higher education enterprise in our state.”

Along with Southwestern College, the other 17 independent colleges and universities are Baker, Benedictine, Bethany, Bethel, Central Christian, Donnelly, Friends, Hesston, Kansas Wesleyan, McPherson, Manhattan Christian, MidAmerica Nazarene, Newman, Ottawa, Saint Mary, Sterling and Tabor.