Butler Community College Elevates Software Development Program with AI Emphasis

Butler Community College is excited to announce significant advancements in its Software Development program. Beginning Fall 2024, students can select a track focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI).  

The new career path is intended for high school graduates and returning adults, with a 7 p.m. class expected to be offered at Butler’s Andover campus. Fall semester classes begin August 19.

Kansas’ Longterm Occupational Projections suggest graduates can anticipate lucrative career prospects in the Artificial Intelligence field. Butler’s program aims to train graduates to enter the workforce and is driven by the Information Systems/Software Development Department’s Industry Advisory Committee, a group of area professionals who recognize the growing need for AI technologies.  

Butler's revised curriculum aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to automate systems and solve intricate problems while providing practical insights into the application of AI concepts. In addition to the academic aspect, the program offers robust student support services, including internships and career counseling initiatives, to enhance student success.

Mark Meadows, fulltime software development instructor for Butler, joined the college last year after nearly 32 years of engineering experience at Boeing/Spirit companies where he utilized Machine Learning for materials pricing in the late ‘90s, and has continued to build on that foundation. After retiring from Spirit, Meadows transitioned to teaching and has been deeply involved in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) programs at Augusta and Winfield School districts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Technology from Southwestern University and has certifications in Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Computer Science Principles, and Principles of Engineering from PLTW.   

Meadows is excited about the various projects AI students will undertake.  

“In one of our AI classes students will capture an image of a face and use AI to put the actual name to it. They’ll also study machine learning and develop skills to use libraries to review and evaluate procedures or actions for future thinking application,” Meadows said.

Students will also gain experience in robotics programming.  

“We’ve built in a Python AI course as it’s a foundational language to artificial intelligence. We’ve added a robot programming class using VEX and students will experiment with an AWS DeepRacer car that we’ll program using regression modeling, which is like reward and punishment.”  

Meadows added that he’s seen reports stating 85 percent of companies are interested in AI, but only about 13 percent can move in that direction due to lack of necessary skills.  

“My goal is to get students job ready,” Meadows said. “And for companies, our AI-Emphasis should assist our graduates, their future employees, in being able to utilize AI to create efficiencies in various work roles.”

Dr. Peter Linden, Dean of Career and Technical Education at Butler Community College, is proud of the work and effort Butler faculty place on preparing students for the demands of the evolving technology landscape.  

"The AI sector is growing and there’s a need for personnel to create intelligent systems that solve problems using AI. Our curriculum enhancements aim to meet this demand head-on, ensuring our students are well-prepared to excel in this dynamic field," Linden said.  

To learn more about Butler’s Software Development program and AI-Emphasis track, contact Mark Meadows at [email protected] or Martecia Cooper, Admissions Counselor, [email protected], 316.323.6243.