Kansas University is taking a wait-and-see approach to a new initiative aimed at offering four-year and advanced degrees to western Kansas residents.

“We have a number of well-established online medical and health programs designed to serve western Kansas,” said Lynn Bretz, Kansas University spokeswoman. “It remains to be seen what possibilities will unfold with this initiative.”

Three state universities and six community colleges have formed a coalition to offer degrees in western Kansas to students who otherwise would have trouble reaching a state university campus.

The Western Kansas Access Initiative is a consortium consisting of Emporia State, Fort Hays State and Kansas State universities, and community colleges in Dodge City, Garden City, Colby, Seward County, Pratt County and Barton County.

KU plans to see how the program will work and then decide on its level of involvement.

“The scale is very small right now,” Bretz said. “It’s too early in the game to find out how much involvement we’ll have. Some of those colleges that are close by are more financially viable. We put all our eggs into the online work.”

The effort is aimed at people who can’t enroll in college elsewhere. Besides a few undergraduate programs offered at community colleges through other universities, opportunities are scarce for people looking to earn a four-year diploma in the western part of the state.

“There are many students in the southwest quadrant who simply are place-bound and really can’t — because of family obligations or economic obligations — just even commute,” said Richard Burke, president of Dodge City Community College.

The initiative plans to offer undergraduate- and graduate-level courses as early as this academic year, most likely in the spring. Students would take classes over the Internet, via two-way satellite television and through face-to-face contact.

Professors could potentially teach from any participating institution or travel throughout the system. Initial courses will focus on teacher education, allied health and business — areas where western Kansas has a growing need, Burke said.

The initiative also will provide courses for the area’s burgeoning Hispanic population, he said.

Garden City Community College spokesman Steve Quakenbush said the initiative would expand services provided at the area’s community colleges.

For instance, GCCC offers a bachelor’s degree program in elementary education through Fort Hays State University. It also offers nursing degrees and some business degrees through other schools.

“This will build on what’s available and make more options available in communities,” Quakenbush said.

Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, helped the initiative get $200,000 in state funding to cover instructional costs in case tuition fell short of expectations.

Neufeld said he had long supported the goals being promoted by the initiative. Despite courses offered in western Kansas through schools such as Newman and Friends universities in Wichita and Barclay College in Kiowa County, there’s still a gap in what’s available, he said.

“We have a substantial problem for nontraditional students,” Neufeld said. “If you’re in Wichita, it’s not a big deal — you just take some night classes. If you’re in western Kansas, you have to give up a job and move someplace.

“This is not how we should be treating our people.”