Emporia State University Prepares Students With Hands-On Learning and Relevant Fields of Study

Emporia State University (ESU) is a four-year university in the heart of Lyon County, Kansas. It supports 4,500 students across a variety of majors and interests, each focused on long-term career development.

“Today’s graduates – more than ever before – will have more than one career,” says Shane Shivley, Senior Director of Development at Emporia State University. “We want to educate our students, so they are able to adapt as their career evolves.”

ESU has made significant changes in recent years to meet the needs of today’s students, regional employers, and the Emporia community as a whole. Learn why this university is such an asset to the region and continues to improve to meet local needs.

ESU Adjusted Its Programs to Meet the Needs of Today’s Students and Employers

ESU is a regional school that supports the entire state of Kansas. Shivley says around 90% of undergraduate students who attend ESU come from Kansas, and 90% stay in Kansas after they receive their degrees. This means ESU's role is to prepare graduates to enter nearby communities and seek gainful employment within the available industries.

Schools and universities cannot prepare students to succeed in their communities without speaking directly to the employers who operate there. A few years ago, ESU admitted the university simply wasn’t doing this.

“We took an honest look at ourselves and said we’ve got to do better,” says Shivley. “And we are looking to elevate our efforts across the board.”

Along with listening to and working closely with local employers, ESU honed its education offerings. Instead of being everything to everyone, it focused on the top education pathways that students wanted, and employers needed.  

“We elected to be really good at what we do,” says Shivley. “We want to educate the best and the brightest for our region.” This includes preparing students for successful careers in healthcare, education, business, and technology.

ESU is Deeply Involved with the Emporia Community

ESU has strengthened its community partnerships, and it's not looking back. The university has always prioritized hands-on learning and creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge. Now, additional business connections have opened doors for students to have better internship or apprenticeship opportunities. The feedback from local companies has also allowed the university to modify coursework to ensure students are fully prepared to step into their careers.  

“Emporia has tremendous assets to offer a range of enterprises,” says Shivley. “We are rich with education resources, along with ESU, we have a strong technical college and multiple organizations across the community. We are stronger as a community when businesses, schools, and government groups stand united and focused on the same objectives.”

Shivley says that ESU has always had a good relationship with the Emporia Regional Development Association (RDA), but there’s room for growth. The two entities, along with Flint Hills Technical College, should be in constant contact to prepare the Emporia workforce for the future.

“We are closely aligned with the RDA so we can best prepare our students for Emporia’s future,” says Shivley. “Likewise, we can provide data and relevant information on the workforce pipeline we are building to help the RDA better do its job.”

ESU is an Asset to Emporia

ESU is one of the largest employers in the region, and its impact on resident median income is significant. As the industry continues to evolve at a breathtaking pace, a strategy to continually upskill the workforce is crucial to attracting new businesses and employers to the region.

Emporia State generates a $225 million economic impact annually including bringing thousands of visitors to the area each year. It also provides quality-of-life benefits to residents. Both local and regional families benefit from a number of events and activities hosted by the university including Hornet Athletics, arts, lectures, courses, outreach programs, and a wide range of summer camps for kids. ESU is part of what makes living in Emporia so enjoyable.  

“A strong and vibrant Emporia State University is good for the community and the area,” says Shivley. 

Emporia State University and Emporia are Poised for Growth

Emporia State is committed to the successful future of Emporia and working together creates big opportunities. As the RDA strengthens partnerships, communication, and alignment with ESU and other organizations, the region can experience growth and forward motion like never before. And that is a good thing for all residents regardless of whether they are directly connected to the university.

“I think the best thing Emporia can do is aim for the stars because we have all the right pieces to go from good to great,” says Shivley. “We have a lot of reasons to be optimistic about where we’re going and will get there when we work together.”

Learn more about other education advantages in Emporia, starting with our Little Lyons daycare facility. Get involved with the RDA and see how it works with schools and companies to give residents the best possible chances to succeed.