LIBERAL, Kan. — Seward County Community College has received approval for a $125,000 Integrating Academics and Career and Technical Education grant through the Kansas Board of Regents. The funding will support the development of an Integrated Workforce Pathways Hub, an initiative designed to strengthen connections between adult education, technical training, career services, and regional workforce opportunities.

The award includes $90,000 in federal Perkins V funding and $35,000 in Adult Education and Family Literacy Act funding.

The initiative will help SCCC develop more coordinated pathways for students moving from GED preparation, English language learning, and other foundational education programs into career and technical education, industry-recognized credentials, and employment.

“This grant represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen how we serve students and our regional workforce,” said Amber Randles, SCCC vice president of Career and Technical Education. “We want to create pathways where students can see what comes next, understand how to get there, and receive the support they need along the way. Whether someone is earning a GED, improving their English language skills, or preparing for a new career, our goal is to make that transition into technical education and employment more accessible.”

The Integrated Workforce Pathways Hub will bring together SCCC’s adult education, business & industry, career and technical education and career services efforts into a coordinated workforce development model.

Major project priorities include:

• Creating clearer pathways from adult education into career and technical education programs.
• Developing ability-to-benefit pathways that may help eligible students without a high school diploma access qualifying postsecondary career training.
• Incorporating academic support, including mathematics, reading, English language instruction, and digital literacy, into technical training.
• Expanding career navigation, job readiness preparation, and employer connections.
• Strengthening partnerships with area industries to better align workforce training with regional employment needs.
• Improving systems to track student transitions, credential completion, and employment outcomes.

Initial implementation will focus on healthcare and high-demand skilled trade programs, with the potential to expand into additional technical education and workforce training areas.

The initiative also supports SCCC’s commitment to serving a diverse population of learners, including working adults, English language learners, individuals returning to education, and students who may need additional academic preparation before entering technical programs.

For area employers, the project is designed to strengthen the connection between workforce training and regional hiring needs by creating more coordinated pathways into in-demand occupations.

“This is about more than a single program or a one-time investment,” Randles added. “We’re building a more connected system that helps students move from where they are today toward a meaningful career, while responding to the workforce needs of the communities we serve.”

SCCC will implement the initiative during the FY2027 grant period, emphasizing coordinated student support, workforce pathway development, employer engagement, and long-term sustainability.