Community colleges continue to be a transition to four-year universities for many high school graduates.

But the two-year institutions also are emphasizing their offerings in technical fields.

David Reist, president at Highland Community College, said a majority of community college students continue to be students planning to transfer on to earn bachelor degrees at four-year institutions.

But those technical programs, in the fields of mechanics, nursing, business and agriculture, for instance, are growing.

“There are just so many more technical programs people can take advantage of and get right into the workforce,” Reist said.

Community colleges could see a jump in that enrollment with Gov. Sam Brownback pushing for more opportunities for technical program, which in turn can put some people in the workforce faster.

Community colleges also have formed partnerships with businesses and other groups.

Johnson County Community College partnered with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to establish the National Academy of Railroad Sciences in 1988 on JCCC’s Overland Park campus.

Harley-Davidson and Fort Scott Community College have partnered to offer a motorcycle technician training and professional development program in nearby Frontenac.

Highland, meanwhile, offers viticulture (grape growing) and enology (winemaking) programs at its Wamego campus. Established in 2009, the program has grown and now partners with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas State University Research and Extension and the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance. Those partnerships have helped HCC receive grant money. A 2013 grant funded machinery and vineyard expansion. HCC now has more than 5,000 vines among three vineyards near Wamego. A year ago, HCC won best in show for wines entered at the Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association conference.

Though community colleges are expanding their programming offerings, they’re also seeing enrollment decreases.

Kansas Board of Regents figures for the fall 2014 semester actually showed community and technical colleges experiencing enrollment drops across the board from the previous year.

Craig Mosher, HCC’s executive assistant to the president and director of the HCC Foundation, said enrollment drops can be attributed to two areas: fewer high school graduates and an improved economy.

“When the economy is good, we lose students,” Mosher said. “When the economy is bad, we get more students.”

When people are without work, more tend to look to community colleges to update their skill set or find a new career path, Mosher said.

Some community colleges have expanded offerings through online and regional classes.

Mosher said that’s key in providing as ample accessibility to prospective students — non-traditional students included.

As for the community college’s role in preparing students for four-year degrees, Mosher said statistics show two-year college graduates stack up well academically with graduates who attend four-year institutions starting as freshmen.

While tuition continues to increase at four-year colleges, community colleges remain more affordable, Reist said.

“Community colleges are just a good buy still,” Reist said.