Independence Community College proposed an industrial maintenance technology program and requested Excel and CTE fees; the Kansas Postsecondary Technical Education Authority Curriculum Committee placed the items on the consent agenda May 15.

The program proposal includes a 29‑credit Technical Certification A and a 42‑credit Technical Certification B. Sharman, KBOR staff, said the need was identified in the Perkins local needs assessment and the institution used a business‑and‑industry leadership team (BILT) to develop curriculum. "This is another program that's undergone the program alignment process," Sharman said.

Independence provided four letters of employer support and reported discussions and a tour with Neosho County Community College in the region. Taylor Cawshaw, vice president for academic affairs at Independence, said the institution participated in a cohort with the Center for Occupational Research and Design to build the BILT and refine certificates to employer needs. The college estimated initial costs at $136,595, including $90,000 for a new full‑time faculty hire.

On Excel and CTE fees, staff reported a proposed total fee of $210 for the industrial maintenance technology program; the packet compared the fee to a range of $10 to $1,259 among four other institutions that offer the program. Committee members moved and seconded motion(s) to place the program and fee on the consent agenda; motions carried.