Cowley College Plans for Growth; Requests Continued Support

Cowley College is looking to the future of its Sumner Campus and is asking voters to continue supporting its efforts by reauthorizing the existing half-cent Sumner County sales tax in November.

The sales tax, which went into effect in April 2017, has been used to finance the construction, equipment, and operation of the Sumner Campus. The Technology and Innovation Center opened in August 2018, followed a year later by the Short General Education Center. These facilities have since become a resource for area students, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups.

“Eight years in, we’re proud of the students we’ve trained at our Sumner County Campus and excited to begin the next decade of technical and general education for students in the area,” said Cowley College President Michelle Schoon.

Enrollment at the Wellington campus has grown from 114 students in the 2021–2022 school year to 163 in 2024–2025, final numbers for this academic year have not been released yet. Top programs at the campus include Welding, EMS, Agriculture, Computer Science, and General Education. About 90 percent of students enrolled live in Sumner County.

“Technical education programs are in high demand, and we’re at capacity for specialized training,” said Phil White, Cowley College Sumner Trustee. “Continuing this investment will help us expand offerings in areas such as construction management and aviation—programs students are eager to pursue—and allow us to add cohorts to waitlisted programs so students can train and graduate more quickly.”

The ballot measure in November is not a tax increase and does not affect property taxes. A “yes” vote would extend the half-cent sales tax on goods purchased in Sumner County for an additional 10 years. College officials note that an estimated 20 percent of the sales tax revenue comes from out-of-county shoppers.

If approved, the revenue would be used to sustain current campus operations and fund expansions in technical programs such as Electrical Technology, Aviation, Machining and Maintenance Technology, and Construction Technology. Plans also include building an addition to the Technology and Innovation Center and facility updates to support the campus’s top-performing programs.

The continued funding supports not only college and high school students but also community groups that regularly use the campus, including the Wellington Lions Club, Kansas Farm Bureau, and the Sumner County Historical and Genealogical Society. Local businesses also utilize campus facilities for meetings and training sessions.

In addition, the campus hosts youth enrichment programs such as the annual Robotics Challenge and STEM Camp. These activities are designed to introduce hundreds of younger students to college learning environments.

“Teaching critical early is vital to academic success,” said Vanessa Sawyer, a fourth-grade teacher and STEM Camp instructor. “Getting kids comfortable being in a college environment is such a positive experience, especially when you can make learning fun.”

To provide more information, Cowley College will host an open house on Monday, October 20, at 4:30 p.m. at the Sumner Campus.