News

Date: March 12, 2020
Time: 3:15pm
RE: Northwest Tech COVID-19 Response

As the situation surrounding the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop across the country, we are monitoring the situation closely, and implementing appropriate strategies for our campus. Our highest priority continues to be the health and safety of our students, employees, and our community.

Goodland Regional Medical Center and Northwest Tech are pleased to announce the launch of free on-campus counseling services that will be available to Northwest Tech students.

In the new partnership, the hospital will provide counseling services via certified counselors Hal McNerney, LMSW, LMAC, who will be the primary counselor, and Laci Leichliter, LSCSW. The counseling office has been established on campus in the Murray Center and will provide counseling resources, initially, for two afternoons each week. 

“We are excited about being able to partner with the hospital to utilize local resources to solve an important campus need for our students,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “We have students who will benefit from ongoing counseling as well as for those who have life events that crop up and simply need someone to talk to.”

Dr. Ron Robinson, CEO at Goodland Regional Medical Center commented, “GRMC’s partnership with NWKTC to deliver affordable counseling services to students in need is an excellent example of what we can achieve when we align our efforts between community organizations.”

The counseling office is a resource that provides a professional, safe, confidential atmosphere where students can discuss academic and personal issues. This service will be available to assist students with a variety of concerns including but not limited to, homesickness, relationship issues, substance use, and depression. 

“During the five years I have worked at Goodland Regional Medical Center, we have noticed an increasing number of referrals from students at NWKTC for behavioral health services.   However, many of these students are unable to obtain the services as they lack the financial resources and sometimes transportation to get to and from appointments,” commented Laci Leichliter, LSCSW.  “This partnership allows us to better meet the needs of students and, in turn, assist in preparing them for life after graduation.”

Numerous industry studies show that depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns are on the rise on college campuses across the nation. The new partnership provides an outlet for students to cope with the situations they are encountering, while also making good use of a fee-for-service partnership between the two organizations. “We are both rural organizations and we face many of the same challenges,” said Schears. “It just makes good sense to see where we can work together to benefit the organizations and students.”

“I am truly excited to have this opportunity to help develop this role to provide additional supports to the students at NWKTC.  It comes about from the common mission to support the needs of the area including the students through healthy collaboration among organizations,” commented Hal McNerney, LMSW, LMAC. 

The counseling office is located in the Murray Center. Students can make an appointment by stopping in, emailing counselor@nwktc.edu, or calling (785) 890-1534. This service is provided to students at no cost.

Students are top priority at Northwest Tech, and these services will help to ensure their health and safety.

In the event that a concern is urgent, or you are feeling suicidal, you are encouraged to walk in and see the next available counselor. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, call 800-273-8255 or go to the Emergency Room.

The Northwest Tech Lady Mavericks invite you and your family to support their team while enjoying delicious food from Great Western Dining! Meals will be available for purchase very home game this February. All proceeds will benefit the Lady Maverick Basketball team. General admission for each game is $5. All Northwest Tech, Goodland High School, and Goodland Jr. High students will be admitted for free.

The meal schedule and prices are listed below:

Feb. 1st

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetables, and all-you-can-eat ham & potato soup - $5

Feb. 5th

All-you-can-eat spaghetti, garlic bread, vegetables, and salad - $7

Feb 8th

All-you-can-eat BBQ pulled pork, BBQ beef, potato salad, coleslaw, and chips- $7

Feb 12th

All-you-can-eat chicken & noodle soup, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, and salad - $7

Feb 19th

Hamburger, hotdog, chips, and all-you-can-eat chili - $5

Please consider having dinner at the Max this February and supporting our Lady Maverick Basketball team! Athletic schedules can be found at https://www.ntmavericks.com/sports/wbkb/2017-18/schedule

The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Kansas Technical College received funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in support of their Industry Readiness Initiative.

The Industry Readiness Initiative’s mission is to provide all students with enriching learning experiences through the use of new innovative equipment and essential classroom materials. The Engineering and Drafting Technology lab is a collaborative space where students come together to design, create, and build items of their own creation through inquiry-based learning.

Funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation was used to purchase new innovative equipment, classroom materials, and engineering industry specific tools such as an enhanced 3D printer, portable drafting tables, new desk chairs, milling machine accessories, projector, and iPads. These items are innovative and essential to emulate current industry standards. This lab equipment will provide a real-world, practical introduction to engineering design and prototyping with an emphasis on design for manufacturability.

The recent improvements to the Engineering and Drafting Technology lab have drawn interest and new support from their advisory board, as well as new student prospects. Additional equipment was needed to help facilitate the expansion of the program, which has included the addition of several new high school juniors and seniors from Goodland High School.

The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Tech provides a well-balanced curriculum in drafting and related subjects by covering the four basic areas of mechanical, civil, architectural, and computer-aided drafting. For more information on The Engineering and Drafting Technology program and how to apply, please visit nwktc.edu

Northwest Tech recently installed an emergency stand-by generator that will power the Student Union during power outages. Northwest Tech administrators say this generator will keep students, faculty, staff, and in some instances, community members safe in the event of a weather emergency.

Power is vital and losing electricity can be challenging in a rural community. Significant power failures can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on the cause and configuration of the blackout. Outages may happen without warning and cause issues in terms of inoperable businesses and mechanical failures. Having an emergency facility and backup generator will provide the college with an alternative shelter for students, and even community members, in the event a dire need arises.

Northwest Tech received a generous grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation to purchase the generator to ensure the Student Union will have power during an outage. Their support ensures the Student Union, which is equipped with a full kitchen, shelter space, and restrooms, can be used as a staging and rallying point for area emergency management professionals.

The Northwest Tech Emergency Standby Generator project will provide a readily accessible facility to students, faculty, and staff. If long-term assistance is needed, residents of Sherman County will have access to the facility before, during, and after times of major emergencies and/or disasters. Northwest Tech will maintain close coordination with local emergency response organizations on an ongoing basis to ensure any needs of the community can be met in a timely manner.