Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason will kick off her four-day tour of Kansas on October 25 in Dodge City, making 21 stops and covering over 1,000 miles. The tour will highlight the impact of FHSU’s people, programs, and partnerships across the state.
Joining Mason at some stops will be the presidents of FHSU’s Strategic Affiliation partner universities, Eric Burks and Ben Schears. They will hold panel discussions in Goodland and Beloit about ongoing initiatives to develop new academic pathways and strengthen community partnerships to address workforce needs in rural Kansas. The trio will also participate in TV and radio interviews in Wichita on October 30.
October 25: Dodge City, Garden City, and Goodland
On the first day of the tour, the focus will be on addressing domestic violence and sex trafficking in rural Kansas. Fort Hays Tech | Northwest will also host a panel discussion about collaborative efforts to improve educational opportunities and services in the region. The construction and engineering design Affiliation Implementation Team is working to meet workforce needs, expand student opportunities, and create innovative educational pathways among the three partner institutions.
October 28: Russell, Beloit, and Salina
On the second day of the tour, stops will feature two radio interviews and a panel discussion on how FHSU and Fort Hays Tech | North Central are collaborating to tackle the shortage of nursing and healthcare professionals in rural Kansas.
October 29: Topeka
President Mason will begin her day by visiting the Topeka Correctional Institute for a radio interview about FHSU’s adult literacy outreach partnership, which helps incarcerated women connect with their families. She will then meet with reporters to discuss the Docking Institute for Public Policy’s 2024 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey. The day will conclude with a podcast interview and TV appearance focusing on the progress of the Strategic Affiliation Initiative launched in July.
October 30: Wichita and Great Bend
Presidents Burks and Schears will join President Mason for a live TV interview, followed by a radio interview, where they will discuss the progress of the Strategic Affiliation Initiative. The tour will wrap up with two media interviews in Great Bend. The first will highlight the partnership between FHSU and the Kansas Bankers Association, focusing on efforts to recruit students interested in banking and finance to enroll at FHSU and benefit from the W. R. Robbins Banking Institute’s programs and networking opportunities. The final stop will feature a news interview about the FHSU Online Student Government’s initiatives to enhance the online student experience for those choosing FHSU Online for its affordability, flexibility, and overall value.
For more news and information about Fort Hays State University, visit https://www.fhsu.edu/university-communications/
