Photo Credit: Dave Kaup
The higher education section in Greater Kansas City is highly-competitive and innovative.
David Cook, vice-chancellor for the KU Edwards Campus, is invigorated and ready for that challenge. Named to his new position in April 2014, David explained the focus on post-graduate and professional enrichment programs at the Edwards Campus.
Located in Overland Park, KS, the Edwards Campus complements the education offered at its neighbor Johnson County Community College with a two-plus-two program. At JCCC, students can complete their freshman and sophomore coursework and then transfer to KU classes at the Edwards Campus or in Lawrence. Currently, the Edwards Campus has between 1500 and 2000 students. Nineteen graduate degrees and nine undergraduate degrees are available, as well as a variety of professional certification programs.
Eighty percent of students at the Edwards Campus are seeking career advancement or a job change. To accommodate the need for relevant coursework, traditional faculty work alongside teachers from business and industry. In addition, the Campus hosts 1,252 conferences, programs, and other events for various companies and professional groups. The 70,235 participants at these event during 2013 came from all counties in Kansas, all fifty states, and 51 countries.
Twenty-five KU Continuing Education staff members are moving to the Edwards Campus from Lawrence at the end of May. In addition to the relocations, Cook is overseeing a search for a new Assistant Vice Chancellor as well as a market analysis of the Kansas City continuing education marketplace.
