Washburn Institute of Technology will expand its HVAC program to add three exit points — a 24-credit Technical Certification A, a 48-credit Technical Certification C and a 63-credit Associate of Applied Science — and the Kansas Postsecondary Technical Education Authority Curriculum Committee placed the items on the consent agenda May 15.

The expansion replaces the school’s existing Technical Certification B and responds to advisory-committee recommendations, staff said. "This HVAC request is a program expansion from their current cert b to add the additional 3 exit points," staff member Sharman said during the meeting. The committee also approved the program’s Excel and CTE fees and its eligibility for the Kansas Promise Act.

Why it matters: The committee cited labor-market data and Perkins local needs assessment results showing demand in the Topeka region. Sharman told members that on the most recent Perkins local needs assessment for the Topeka region there were 45 concentrators and 77 annual openings for the occupation. Washburn provided three letters of support and described collaboration with local high schools to offer coursework to high‑school students.

Supporters emphasized alignment and employer connections. Marie Hall, assistant dean over curriculum at Washburn, said the change "really was directly in response to our advisory board member input" and described restructuring so students could enter industry early or continue to advanced skills in a later year. Instructor Cody Boulclair answered a question about licensure: when asked whether the program prepares students to take the journeyman exam, Cody said, "It does not prepare them to take the journeyman's exam due to the amount of hours they need in the field in addition to tech. So it doesn't directly prepare them to take the test."

Costs and administration: Washburn estimated initial costs at $209,716, with the majority budgeted for existing full‑time faculty salaries. Committee members placed the expansion, the Excel and CTE fee schedule (totaling $572 for the program) and Kansas Promise Act eligibility on the consent agenda; the motion was moved and seconded and carried, with one committee member noting an abstention before the vote.

The items will appear on the authority’s consent agenda for final approval at the full meeting.