KSU Polytechnic Rebrand

Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus is rebranding to be Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus. You can read more in a post on the KSAL.com website, "Name Change for KSU Polytechnic."

The institution was founded by Kansas Legislature in 1965 as Schilling Institute and was located on the former Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, KS.  The name was change to Kansas Technical Institute in 1969.  The name changed again in 1988 to Kansas College of Technology.  KCT then merged with Kansas State University in 1991 to become Kansas State University-Salina. Then in 2015, KSU-Salina became KSU Polytechnic.
 

Centennials for both Fort Scott and Garden City Community Colleges

 

Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS and Garden City Community College in Garden City, KS were both founded in 1919. The institutions initially were affiliated with their respective public schools and were known as junior colleges. They became independent after passage of the Community College Act in 1965 by the Kansas Legislature.

Garden City Community College kicked off its centennial celebration this week and you can read "GCCC begins centennial celebration" by Amber Friend in The Garden City Telegram.

You can read more on the history of each institution by visiting their respective web sites.

Vatterott College Closes

Celeste Bott of the St. Louis Post Dispatch in "Vatterott immediately closes all campuses" and Wes Johnson of the Springfield (MO) News-Leader in "All Vatterott College campuses - including Springfield's - suddenly close Monday," are reporting on the immediate closure of Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc. Vatterott was a for-profit institution and with academic programs in culinary arts, automotive trades, and allied health fields. The company with roughly 950 employees, is headquartered in Olivett, MO.  Letters to students and employees are posted on the Vatterott College web site.

Vatterott campuses were located in seven states and enrolled just over 3,500 students. Vatterott College was initially founded in 1969 in St. Louis, MO as Urban Technical Centers, Inc.  It later operated as Vatterott & Sullivan Educational Center and Vatterott Educational Centers before adopting the name of Vatterott College in 1989.

Campus	City	State	Enrollment
Vatterott College-Appling Farms	Memphis	Tennessee	255
Vatterott College-Berkeley	Berkeley	Missouri	545
Vatterott College-Cleveland	Broadview Heights	Ohio	117
Vatterott College-Des Moines	Des Moines	Iowa	34
Vatterott College-Dividend	Memphis	Tennessee	689
Vatterott College-ex'treme Institute by Nelly	St. Louis	Missouri	245
Vatterott College-Fairview Heights	Fairview Heights	Illinois	238
Vatterott College-Joplin	Joplin	Missouri	140
Vatterott College-Kansas City	Kansas City	Missouri	260
Vatterott College-Oklahoma City	Warr Acres	Oklahoma	108
Vatterott College-Quincy	Quincy	Illinois	94
Vatterott College-Springfield	Springfield	Missouri	162
Vatterott College-St Charles	St Charles	Missouri	220
Vatterott College-Sunset Hills	Sunset Hills	Missouri	316
Vatterott College-Tulsa	Tulsa	Oklahoma	88
Vatterott College-Wichita	Wichita	Kansas	46
		Total	3,557

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers,and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page. There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions. Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

St. John's College Alumni Gather Three Decades after Closure

The Wellington (KS) Daily News published an article on June 6, 2018 by Adam Catlin, "Thirty-two years after its closure, St. John's College still brings back its alumni."  St. John's College operated in Winfield, Kansas from 1893 to 1986 and Catlin reports on a recent successful gathering of St. John's alumni.  His article includes comments from a number of alumni he interviewed and also provides information on the institution and several historical images.

The city of Winfield maintains the campus as Baden Square and has successfully repurposed a number of the building for other community activities.  You can read an earlier College History Garden post from several years ago that includes links to a couple of alumni web sites.

Remembering a Tragic Fire at Tabor College

The Hillsboro Star-Journal published an article, "Tabor goes up in smoke," written by Rowena Plett.  Plett describes a devastating fire at Tabor College that quickly destroyed the main campus building on April 30, 1918.  She also explores how the campus and community pulled together and were able to survive this tragic event. 

The Mennonite Archival Image database offers several images of the building engulfed in flames and the Kansas Historical Society's Kansas Memory project includes a photograph of a composite work of paint, sliced brick, and slate by Professor Solomon Loewen, at the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, depicting a building burning.

Newman University History

Kansas Newman University posted a couple of videos on Youtube that focus on the institution's history.  An initial introductory video of just over 6 minutes covers the founding of the religious order, Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood, that operated schools in various Kansas towns.

The Sisters purchased property in Wichita, Kansas and started St. John's Academy, a school for girls in 1902. A boy's school was added later. In 1923, Sacred Heart Junior College began and a 4-year baccalaureate program was offered after 1933. The name changed to Sacred Heart College in 1952. It was then renamed Kansas Newman College in 1973 and Newman University in 2000.

Another video, "Kansas Newman College, 1973-1998," includes a presentation by Sr. Charlotte Rohrbach, ASC, covers a twenty-five year period at the institution just prior to the adoption of the current name.

You can also visit the Newman website for a more extensive historical sketch and a link to the institutional archives.

Highland Community College Celebrates 160th Anniversary

Highland Community College in Highland, KS is celebrating the 160th anniversary of its founding in 1858 with a charter granted by the Kansas Territorial Legislature.  Highland Presbyterian Academy founded the previous year served as a foundation for the new institution.  The academy and small community that grew up around it served as a mission to Native Americans in the area. 

There have been a number of changes in name during the institution's history:

• 1857 - Highland Presbyterian Academy
• 1858 - Highland University
• 1910 - Highland College
• 1921 - Highland Junior College
• 1929 - Northeast Kansas Junior College
• 1937 - Highland Public Junior College
• 1959 - Doniphan County Junior College
• 1965 - Highland Community Junior College
• 1980 - Highland Community College 

Wichita State University and Wichita Area Technical College Announce Affiliation

Wichita Area Technical College (WATC) and Wichita State University announced today that WATC will affiliate with WSU to become the Witchita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology.  WATC was founded in 1965 and enrolls roughly 3,500 students.

You can also read more about the affiliation on the KWCH-12 website, "WATC to become the 'WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology."

If you are interested in recent trends for mergers and affiliations, access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page.  There is a separate tab for mergers, affiliations, or acquisitions.  Each tab includes basic information for each institution, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

History Coincides with 130th Anniversary of Kansas Wesleyan University

"New Book Celebrates Kansas Wesleyan's History," was posted in July at KSAL.com from Salina, KS coinciding with the 130th anniversary of the institution's founding.  Jennifer Toelle is the author of the new book published by Arcadia Publishing as part of their Campus History Series.  Toelle was also interviewed by 1150am KSAL radio.  Kansas Wesleyan University was founded in 1885 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.  

Heritage College is Closing with Sites in Ten States

KWCH-TV in Wichita, KS, KMBC-TV in Kansas City, MO and a number of other news outlets reported today on the closure of Heritage College.  Heritage was a private for-profit and offered certificates and associates degrees in a variety of health care fields.

 If you are interested in recent trends for closures, access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page.  The institution operated sites in ten cities and all appear to have closed.

Kansas Wesleyan University Celebrates 130th Anniversary

Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas celebrates the 130th anniversary of its founding in 1886.  A timeline of key dates and images of historic campus buildings are available by following links from the anniversary page.

College of Emporia Featured in a series of Articles

The Emporia Gazette published several excellent articles by Bobbi Mlnar this week featuring the College of Emporia.  The institution, located in Emporia, Kansas, was founded in 1883 and operated until 1973.  The first article, "Birth of an institution," focuses on the founding and early history.  In "Success of the 'Fighting Presbies," Mlnar covers athletic programs.

"The booming glory days," are the focus of the third article.

Mlnar then explores the institution's decline in "Falling on hard times: The end of C. of E."

The series concludes with "Alumni keep the spirit alive."

Wright Career College will be Closing

Josh Heck reported on March 10, 2016 for the Wichita Business Journal that Wright Career College will be closing.  The institution with headquarters in Overland Park, KS operates from sites in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas, and Omaha, Nebraska.

The institution was founded in 1921 as Dickinson Business School.  The name was changed to Wright Business School in 1990 and Wright Career College in 2007.

Mara Rose Williams with The Kansas City Star published a report the following day.

Cleveland Chiropractic College Changes Name to Cleveland University-Kansas City

Dora Grote reported for the Kansas City Business Journal on October 13, 2015 that Cleveland Chiropractic College will change it's name to Cleveland University-Kansas City.  The college enrolled 483 students during the last academic year and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Central Chiropractic College was founded in 1922 in Kansas City, MO.  The name was changed to Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1924 and the institution moved to Overland Park, KS in 2008.  Ratledge Chiropractic College in Los Angeles, CA was acquired in 1951 and the name was changed to Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles in 1955.  The Los Angeles campus was closed in 2011.

K-State Polytechnic will be new name for K-State Salina

Kansas State University will seek approval to change the name of KSU Salina to K-State Polytechnic.  The institution was founded by Kansas Legislature in 1965 as Schilling Institute and was located on the former Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, KS. The name was change to Kansas Technical Institute in 1969. The name changed again in 1988 to Kansas College of Technology. KCT then merged with Kansas State University in 1991 to become Kansas State University-Salina.

Records of Kansas City National Training School / National College for Christian Workers

The Saint Paul School of Theology web site offers information on holdings of records for a Methodist institution intended to better prepare women for roles providing education and social services to immigrant and other urban residents.  The site includes a helpful bibliography on the deaconess movement and a number of photographs.

The institution was initially founded in 1899 in Kansas City, KS.  It moved to Kansas City, MO in 1904 as the Kansas City National Training School for Deaconeses and Missionaries.  The name was changed to the National Training School for Christian Workers in 1933, the National College for Christian Workers in 1945, and to National College in 1958.  The institution explored a cooperative merger with Saint Paul before closing in 1964.

Kansas Colleges that have Closed, Merged, or Changed Names

This table below includes institutions that have closed, merged, or changed their names.  If you note a need for changing or updating information, please notify ray01brown@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

An index with links to separate pages for other states and countries is available.

There is a College History Garden Facebook group or you can view and follow multiple College History Garden boards on Pinterest or there is a board specifically devoted to Kansas colleges.

Thanks for your interest and suggestions!

Marymount College of Kansas: A History

Marymount College of Kansas: A History by Patricia E. Ackerman is now available.  I have been anticipating the book for some time and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the institution. Ackerman uses her perspective as an alum of Marymount and a faculty member at Kansas State University to craft an excellent narrative.  She skillfully places the founding and operation of the Marymount by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1922 within the context of broader trends influencing women's education.  Ackerman's concludes by reflecting on the closure of Marymount in 1989 and the far reaching impact of the decision that still lingers today in central Kansas.

Postcards from Bethel College (KS)

"Postcards from Bethel" is a very interesting article by Keith and David Sprunger available in Mennonite Life.  The authors use postcards as a way to explore institutional history, in this case, the history of Bethel College in N. Newton, KS. 

Topics include: campus buildings and architecture, faculty and classes, student activities, cards used for marketing of the institution, and the messages written by those using the cards.

Keith Sprunger is also author of the recently published, Bethel College of Kansas, 1887-2012 (Bethel College, 2012).

Kansas City University (KS)

Kansas City University (KCU) operated in Kansas City, KS from 1896-1933 and was initially associated with the Methodist Protestant Church.  The institution was founded by D. Samuel Fielding Mather, a descendant of Cotton Mather, and included Mather College, College of Theology, College of Music, Kansas City Academy, School of Oratory and Elocution, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the College of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery.  The Colleges of Music and Oratory were located in Kansas City, MO.  


The institution merged with Campbell College in 1913 that previously operated in Holton, KS.  One-half of KCU trustees were then drawn from Church of the United Brethren in Christ.   KCU failed due to financial difficulties.  


St. Augustine Hall was purchased by the Recollect Augustinian Fathers in 1935 to serve as their Monastery of St. Augustine.  The campus was later purchased by Seventh Day Adventists in 1987 for use as administrative offices and a conference center.  You can follow the link for a document prepared to support the placement of Mather Hall on the National Register of Historic Places.