project is with the local Salvation Army, developing a business plan for their urban food initiative. Instead of one student working in one office, we have teams tackling real-world challenges.” BUILDING WORKFORCE PATHWAYS The university’s strong ties to the Wichita community reflect its longstanding commitment to the belief that education should serve the greater good. “Our early college program with USD 259, the largest school district in Wichita, allows high-potential students to earn nearly a full associate degree while still in high school,” Dr. Carey explains. “We have at least 100 students in that program who come to campus for classes.” Friends University also collaborates with local businesses to create pathways into the workforce. “These aren’t just internships,” Dr. Carey emphasizes. “We’re working with employers like Nova Coast to provide talent pipelines and even attract new companies to Wichita. We were part of the conversation when Nova Coast decided to relocate here because they wanted access to skilled workers.” Dr. Stoltzfus notes that this type of collaboration also extends into the field of mental health. “We were founding organizational members of the Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence,” he explains. “That initiative brings educational institutions and mental health providers together to address the workforce shortage across Kansas, which is designated as a mental health shortage area statewide.” Through its Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement, Friends also fosters civic engagement. “Our students worked with the city of Belle Plaine to develop revitalization plans for their downtown,” Dr. Stoltzfus shares. “That involved graphic design and business students collaborating on real solutions.” ATHLETES WHO INSPIRE LEADERSHIP Athletics are another vibrant part of life at Friends University.“Our football team is ranked number four 73 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11 FRIENDS UNIVERSITY
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx