The Wichita Indochinese Center and Butler Community College Form Collaborative Team

The Wichita Indochinese Center asked Butler Community College to partner with them.  This collaboration expands the college’s adult education program and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Through this partnership, which occurred late this summer, Butler and the Indochinese Center are able to help more members of the community with basic skills in reading and math, language acquisition, digital literacy skills and workforce competence.

“This is a win-win situation for us,” said Sherry Watkins, Director of the Indochinese Center and Director of Adult Education at Butler. “The Indochinese Center has been a beacon of hope for the community. We plan to continue to offer hope to the immigrant and refugee population the center has served for so long.”

The Indochinese Center’s director of more than 25 years, Mohan Kambampati, is transitioning into a part-time role. After more than three decades of running the Center, Kambampati, will concentrate on fundraising and other projects. The staff at the Center, located at 2502 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita, will continue to offer ESL, GED, citizenship classes, social and cultural adaptation, and other education and life skills classes. The Center serves students that range in age from 18 to 65, and sometimes older. Students represent 18 countries and speak more than 25 languages.

Watkins is now the Center’s director and remains Butler’s Director of Adult Education. This collaboration allows students from the Center and Butler to take Adult Education classes at either facility.

Morning, afternoon and evening classes are available at the Indochinese Center and at Butler. Both facilities offer tutoring, as well as face-to-face courses. 

Partnerships webpage