From Dean and CEO Ben Wolfe: Olathe Campus marks anniversary of campus strategic plan, next steps

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2024

 

Dear K-State Community:

As K-State Olathe marks the one-year anniversary of launching of its campus-level strategic plan, I want to reflect on the strong work that has been done over the past 12 months and how it supports the university’s Next-Gen strategic imperatives.

When we launched our campus-level strategic plan a year ago, we set ambitious goals for increasing the number of learners that our campus serves, growing our research endeavors, diversifying revenue streams and engaging our stakeholders to improve prosperity and wellbeing. Additionally, we identified two key initiatives to pursue: advanced manufacturing and food as medicine. On our plan website, we share updates toward these goals, and I encourage you to follow along on our progress.

As we celebrate these achievements, the next phase of our strategy will require even greater focus, agility and investment. We are doubling down on our commitment to support industries related to advanced manufacturing and the supply chain in the Kansas City region. Growing at a rate of 7 percent, these industries are struggling with finding the talent and applied research support needed to continue to grow.

How will K-State Olathe address these challenges? We already do so with training and upskilling of workers through our non-credit programming. Academic offerings, framed in the undergraduate degree completion, are in development. Applied research and consulting also is underway on a small scale.

However, there’s more to be accomplished, which is why we are making a $4 million strategic investment that will enable us to accelerate our progress and build a state-of the-art Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center to support hands-on learning and expanded research. Construction begins later this month to transform previously unfinished space into a platform for supporting the manufacturing jobs of the future and innovation in processes and materials. Industry partners, understanding the critical need for these services, have already pledged donations of $1.2 million in equipment donations.

This investment is designed to fuel innovation, expand our capabilities and ensure we continue to build on the momentum we’ve generated. Even more importantly, this allows us to support the economic growth of industry and individuals’ prosperity – living up to our Next-Gen, land-grant university mission.

Thank you to our university leadership and partners for the critical roles you play in supporting our campus, exemplifying that we are indeed One K-State. We will keep pushing forward toward the Next-Gen vision—this is just the beginning.

Go ‘Cats,

Ben Wolfe

Dean and CEO | K-State Olathe