Accelerate. Innovate. Aviate.

To keep Wichita at the forefront of aviation and manufacturing, WSU Tech must grow. The Accelerate. Innovate. Aviate. campaign supports the expansion of our NCAT campus—creating new opportunities for students and strengthening the industries that power our community.

Wichita is renowned as the Air Capital of the World, home to some of the largest and most influential aviation and manufacturing companies globally, and WSU Tech proudly fuels that legacy by training the workforce that drives the industry forward. Since 2011, the college has consistently achieved record-breaking enrollment growth, expanding from 3,700 students to nearly 10,000 today. We have enrollment demands and programming requests from our industry partners that we cannot meet with our current facilities.

Additionally, rapid technological advancements and increasing demand for skilled workers require us to continuously enhance our educational offerings. To meet these challenges, we must expand our campus at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) to provide state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge programs to equip our students with the skills needed for the aviation and advanced manufacturing jobs of today and tomorrow.

The expansion of NCAT will redefine aviation and advanced manufacturing education through the 85,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training center and its innovative microhub concept. At a glimpse, the new facility will house 12 cutting-edge labs, 7 student learning and training studios, and a professional pilot training center and hangar, all designed to push the boundaries of traditional education and training.

WSU Tech will also expand our program offerings to include emerging fields such as SMART Manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, UAS and Drones, and Programmable Logic Controls — aligning our curriculum with the future in-demand careers. In addition, this expansion will allow for the launch of the Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Academy for high school students.

The new facility presents an opportunity to drive workforce expansion and meet critical industry demands in emerging and advanced aviation, as well as advanced manufacturing and automation. New and expanded programs include:

• Advanced Air Mobility (New)
• Aviation Maintenance Technology
• Industrial Automation
• Internet of Things (New)
• Professional Pilot
• Quality Assurance Inspection
• Robotics
• SMART Manufacturing (New)
• Training & Credentialing (New)
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Over the first three years, the training facility will provide WSU Tech the infrastructure and capacity to target headcount growth of over 1,450 students and trainees.

The estimated cost for the entire project budget is more than $45 million, and the WSU Tech Foundation has launched a philanthropic support campaign titled “Accelerate. Innovate. Aviate.” to raise $8 million to bolster the project. The $8 million goal includes costs related to construction and infrastructure; design and interior finishing; furniture, fixtures and equipment; AV and technology; safety, security and inspections; soft costs; scholarship and programs; and Foundation support.

The WSU Tech Foundation is seeking partners to come alongside the college in bringing this expansion to fruition. This project is about more than a new building – it’s about offering the opportunity to achieve economic empowerment through education and training to 1,450 additional students each year.

We’ve already seen the impact of generosity on this campaign. One donor, a local aviation leader, shared how investing in this expansion isn’t just about workforce development. It’s about securing Wichita’s future as a global leader in aviation and advanced manufacturing innovation. Their support is helping create opportunities for students to achieve their dreams while strengthening the industries that keeps our city thriving

Your support could do the same—creating jobs, driving economic growth, and inspiring the next generation of workforce leaders.

Contact WSU Tech Foundation Executive Director Courtney Sendall at csendall@wsutech.edu or 316.677.1034.