GCCC Board of Trustees Meeting Recap April 15, 2025
[Garden City, KS] April 16, 2025 -- The Garden City Community College Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting on April 15, 2025, in the Omar D. Angeles Endowment Room at GCCC.
During the meeting, the Board approved the addition of a new Electrical Technology program as part of GCCC’s ongoing commitment to meeting regional workforce demands. Closely aligned with the existing Construction Technology curriculum, the program is designed to prepare students for careers in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work.
The Electrical Technology program will offer multiple stackable credential options:
- Certificate B – a 31-credit, two-semester sequence.
- Certificate C – a 46-credit, three-semester sequence that builds on Certificate B.
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS) – a 64-credit, two-year degree that includes general education courses in addition to the Certificate C curriculum.
The proposed curriculum received strong industry support and was unanimously approved during an advisory committee meeting. It was subsequently approved by the College’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee. With the Board’s approval secured, GCCC will now submit the program to the Kansas Board of Regents for funding consideration, with final approval expected by mid-June and a target launch date of fall 2025.
In addition, the Board approved expanding the Construction Technology program. In collaboration with the Southwest Kansas Builders Association, GCCC has enhanced its curriculum to offer new Certificate B and Certificate C options, along with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree.
The expanded Construction Technology program will now include:
- Certificate A – the existing 21-credit, two-semester option.
- Certificate B – a new 31-credit, two-semester sequence that builds on Certificate A.
- Certificate C – a new 47-credit, three-semester sequence that builds on Certificate B.
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS) – a new 60-credit, two-year degree that adds general education to the Certificate C coursework.
For over two years, the Construction Technology Advisory Committee has emphasized the need for expanded educational pathways, citing strong student interest and a regional shortage of housing and construction professionals. The advisory committee and the Curriculum and Instruction Committee unanimously approved the revised curriculum. With the Board’s approval now in place, GCCC will submit the updated program to the Kansas Board of Regents, with final approval expected by mid-June and an anticipated fall 2025 launch.
Additionally, the Board unanimously approved a one-year extension of Dr. Ryan Ruda’s presidential contract.
Two executive sessions were held during the meeting; no action was taken.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Omar D. Angeles Endowment Room of the Beth Tedrow Student Center on the GCCC campus.
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Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.
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