Adult education programs offered by Kansas colleges and school districts are increasingly bringing classes to workers where they already are: at work.
Washburn University will soon offer conflict resolution to staffers at the Ramada Hotel in Topeka. Dodge City Community College will provide customer service lessons at Boot Hill Casino. And several schools are providing English classes, one of the most sought-after skills.
Theres a major shift taking place in education, said Karen Ulanski, the director for Paola USD 368s adult education center.
The increasingly snug relationship between Kansas higher education and business sector is most typically seen at the schools, such as the aviation industry presence on Wichita States innovation campus. But classes cropping up at the workplace is a natural extension of the partnership that the states education policymakers look to grow further.
They also argue its a win for everyone involved. Schools can go directly to students instead of waiting for them to enroll. Businesses can retain and create skilled workers in a tight labor market. And workers get free classes, without having to go to a campus or sit in front of a computer at home.
Theres a catch: Not all workers get the same benefits. While some businesses offer the classes during paid work hours, others take place before or after work with little incentive to participate. And most employees wont be earning credentials, such as certificates or degrees, to help them advance elsewhere in the industry.
Bringing the chalkboard to work
Adult education classes became popular in the 1990s, mostly in the manufacturing industry. They were mostly limited to basic skill sets like literacy and arithmetic and meant to help workers eventually earn a GED.
That began to change with the passage of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014. The law encouraged education programs to better align with private-sector needs. Educators began providing more specialized training for specific industries, such as financial literacy skills tailored for retail sales, leading more industries to welcome in those classes.
Theres broader interest from employers in a range of industries then there used to be, said Neil Ridley, the state initiative director at Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce.
The adult education centers offering the programs are usually run by community colleges and school districts. Their main goal is to provide classes for adult students looking to advance their skills outside more traditional degree programs, like computer classes at night or lessons to help students earn a GED.
Walmart recently announced a $460,000 grant for four Kansas adult education centers to offer more classes at retail and service sector workplaces. Six employers are part of the grant, working with centers that serve about a half-dozen employees, though more are expected to be added.
But even before the latest grant, adult education centers across the state were offering similar programs: Paola USD 368 has upped its offerings over the course of a decade and now offers programs across three counties.
And Tyson Foods, which has several meat processing plants in Kansas, has paired with adult education centers to bring in classes since 2016. Tyson expanded that project to Hutchinson with the help of the local community college last month and plans on adding classes to Olathe, Emporia and Kansas City, Kansas, locations later this year. The company didnt respond to a request for comment.
