Fort Hays State University President Stops In Salina

KSAL Staff - Tue 03:57 PM 11/27/2012

Fort Hays State University President Dr. Edward Hammond visits the KSAL studios Tuesday afternoon.

Fort Hays State University President Dr. Edward Hammond is on a whirlwind 5-day, 17-city, 31-event tour of Kansas touting what he says is the fastest growing school in the state of Kansas.

Hammond tells KSAL News that the board of regents just released a 5-year report that shows Fort Hays State has grown 40 percent over the time period, including a 31 percent growth in graduate programs. Hammond says that the freshman class on campus is the largest ever, with 934 students on campus in Hays.

According to the president, not only is Fort Hays State one of the fastest growing schools in Kansas, it is one of the fastest growing in the country, citing a recent U.S. News and World Report ranking. Fort Hays was listed as the fourth fastest growing college in the country in the 10-year period between 2000 - 2010, coming in just behind the University of Maryland.

Hammond credits the growth to a couple of factors. He says that a combination of the affordability and quality of education at Fort Hays State make it very appealing. He says that 94 percent of graduates are placed in jobs or are admitted to another school of higher learning to continue their education.

Hammond says proof of the quality of education from Fort Hays State is how graduates fare among their peers. He says that last year about 210,000 students around the country took the Certified Public Account exam. Of those taking the exam, a Fort Hays State student finished 5th in the nation.

Hammond says that the growth has prompted "significant expansion" on campus. He says that campus boasts two new residence complexes. One opened this August, and the other is scheduled to open next August. An indoor athletic training facility is currently under construction. It will have turf, a track, and meetings rooms to be used by the football, baseball, softball, and mens and womens soccer teams. An academic building to house a new computer-aided engineering is also currently being built.

Hammond says that for continued growth of higher education throughout the state it is important that the legislature maintain adequate funding.

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