We’re listening and we’re taking action. That’s the message of the “Working Wisconsin Listening Sessions” taking place at Wisconsin’s technical colleges.
Beginning May 16 each college will host a 90-minute event with Jim Morgan, president of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) Foundation. Morgan will share the results of 50+ listening sessions with more than 300 manufacturing representatives. He’ll also outline what WMC plans to do to solve the workforce shortage.
College representatives will also speak about what they are doing to educate skilled workers who will fill the many job vacancies in manufacturing. Throughout the state technical colleges are adding new programs, adjusting current curriculum and expanding course offerings in response to the need for more skilled workers.
Contact your local technical college to find out how you can attend the listening session in your area. Reservations are required, however, there is no charge to attend a session.
CNC Machine Tool Program
We’ve been seeing a lot of discussion in the media lately on how we may be over-saturating the job market with four-year grads lacking the technical skills that employers need. Not so for graduates of technical colleges who are being scooped up by employers in need of skilled workers.
There’s no better time to recognize the potential of technical college graduates than commencement time, as graduates begin searching for jobs. For many of our graduates, there is no job search necessary because they have already found work. For most individuals that do have to look, it won’t take long, as nearly 9 out of 10 will be employed within 6 months of graduation. News articles from around the state this past weekend support the strong success of our graduates in getting jobs:
This headline appeared in the Wausau Daily Herald, “Technical college graduates face bright job future.”
Here’s an excerpt from the Green Bay Press Gazette, “Technical college graduates find jobs quicker than graduates of four-year schools…”
Or, this one from an article in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, “’It’s so nice to have a job right out of college,’ said Calabresa.”
While these trends of high placements for technical college graduates may surprise some, it’s no surprise to faculty and staff at the technical colleges. The colleges’ close partnership with local business and industry representatives provides an advantage over universities and other colleges. These representatives participate on advisory committees that guide the colleges on various aspects of each career program, including the skills that will be required and whether market demand will support the number graduates being produced.
Individuals looking at a particular career should put passion ahead of anything else. But to increase the likelihood of being employed at graduation, make sure that passion is a career program that is in demand by employers – like the ones offered at Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges.
Parents have significant influence on their son’s or daughter’s decision about post- secondary education. However, they walk a fine line between advising and dictating when it comes to this important step toward a future career.
John Pritchett of the Waukesha County Technical College Career Development Services Department has these tips for parents of high school students:
- Talk about what comes to mind when you think of success in a career.
- Help your child identify his/her skills, strengths and abilities.
- Discuss what kind of life the student wants to have and how career fits into those desires. This includes identifying spiritual, geographic, monetary and community values or priorities.
- Help students explore careers by connecting them with your contacts in various fields to set up informational interviews or job shadowing.
For more advice listen to the full interview on the Making Futures Podcast.
Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges are leading the way to a sustainable future. In addition to educating students for careers in renewable energy occupations, the colleges are also incorporating principles of sustainability into most traditional occupational programs. We also practice what we teach.
College administrators are working to make sustainability a core ability for all tech college students. Students learn to apply the environmental, social and economic issues of sustainability into any occupation. Countless graduates with experience in this area will help business and industry integrate sustainable practices into everyday operations.
As for careers in renewable energy, alternative fuels and direct sustainable practices, the colleges offer everything from bio refinery technology, thermal energy technician, to sustainable architecture and sustainable facilities operations. Our students learn how to install photovoltaic energy systems and how to conduct energy audits on residential and commercial properties. They climb wind turbines and develop geothermal wells.
The technical colleges also show commitment to sustainability in the facilities we build. In 2009, the WTCS Board adopted a sustainable facilities policy and the system established Energy Consumption Guidelines. All construction and renovation projects are designed and built to meet or exceed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.
From solar panels to efficient lighting systems, Wisconsin’s technical colleges are finding ways to reduce energy consumption and it all adds up. Energy-saving practices have saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $100 million.
At Fox Valley Technical College solar panels on the roof generate electrical power for the campus. Wind turbines at Gateway Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College provide power for those campuses. Mid-State Technical College collects fryer grease from its kitchens and converts it to biofuel for tractors and machinery.
The colleges also set good examples by practicing sustainability every day by reducing waste, reusing items and recycling. That includes encouraging re-usable mugs in college cafeterias, paperless hand dryers and installing water stations to keep plastic bottles out of landfills.
Some colleges teach businesses how to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday operations through sustainable programs like Green Generalist Training, Lean Manufacturing, Lean for the Office and Carbon Footprint Reduction. Other colleges offer preparation seminars for LEED rating systems exams. Milwaukee Area Technical College offers a certificate program in Sustainable Operations.
Every day is Earth Day for Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges as we strive to build a sustainable future for our state 365 days a year.
A Preview of our Pinterest page
Source: thetaoofdana.com via WisTechColleges on Pinterest
Some inspiration for anyone who could use it. (thanks to mycollegesandcareers.com).
For more like this, check out our pinterest page:
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Where can you get help with your tax return, have your teeth cleaned, get a haircut or a massage, and get the oil changed in your car all in one place? At your local technical college.
Wisconsin’s technical colleges give students real world job experience by offering services to the community at a low cost. These services benefit people who may not be able to afford them otherwise.
Several colleges are offering tax help in cooperation with local professionals. At Mid-State Technical College a mix of certified volunteers and accounting students help low-income residents with income tax preparations. Bob Smith, an accounting instructor with Mid-State, said the opportunity for students is “invaluable.”
Second-year accounting students at Blackhawk Technical College prepare tax returns under the supervision of their instructor every Tuesday through April 5. Tax preparation is also available on Saturdays at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
As for auto maintenance needs, almost all 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges offer some auto mechanics programs. Customers pay for the parts and the labor is free.
The Automotive Maintenance Technician program at Lakeshore Technical College accepts requests from the general public for automotive repairs including brakes, steering and suspension repair, electrical system repairs, automatic transmission servicing and more. Check with your local college to see when these services are offered. It may take longer than your regular shop, but will cost less and give a learning opportunity to students.
At the Shear Inspiration learning lab Chippewa Valley Technical College students perform salon services such as hair coloring, shampoo, cut and style, manicures and pedicures. Several other colleges have similar programs.
Students in the Therapeutic Massage Program staff and operate the Madison College Massage Clinic. The clinic offers massages by appointment in the spring (beginning mid-March), summer and fall (beginning in October). There is a small fee charged for full-hour massages. In addition, students offer free chair massages a few times during the year.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) in Green Bay was admitted to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This is the third time the college was recognized for engaging students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community.
Physical therapist assistant students at NWTC are currently offering “Keep Stepping” for adults over the age of 60. The free classes cover healthy aging, home safety, fall prevention and other health and wellness topics, individual health and fitness assessments and exercise.
Auto collision, dental hygienist and electrical power distribution students all served the community as NWTC participated in more than 300 service learning projects meeting the needs of non-profit agencies in Northeastern Wisconsin.
Find out what services your local technical college offers by calling or visiting their website. Students are waiting to practice what they are learning.
The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board approved a 4.5 percent tuition increase for vocational adult education and a 5.5 percent increase for collegiate transfer courses beginning with the 2012 summer session. Resident vocational adult students will pay $5.05 more per credit and collegiate transfer students will see an increase of $8.25 per credit.
The tuition increase is below the national average of 8.7 percent and the Midwest regional average of 5.2 percent. University of Wisconsin two-year colleges raised tuition 5.5 percent in 2011-12. Perhaps most noteworthy is the relatively low tuition increase considering a recent 30 percent cut in technical college funding from the state.
Cost per student
For a full-time student taking 15 credits a semester, the new tuition rates would mean an increase of $75.75 per semester for postsecondary/vocational adult students and $123.75 per semester for collegiate transfer students.
A Tuition Working Group made up of six WTCS State Board members considered effects of changes in the state budget, the cap on colleges’ operational property tax levy, and a 30 percent reduction in state aid before recommending the approved increase. They also considered recommendations of college presidents as well as comments from student government leaders, student budgets and the availability of financial aid.
Under state statute, postsecondary/vocational adult program tuition must recover at least 14 percent of the statewide average operational costs and collegiate transfer program tuition must cover not less than 31 percent of operational costs. The newly adopted rates will cover a projected 22.8 percent of operational costs for vocational programs and a projected 46.2 percent of collegiate transfer costs. Overall, the 2012-13 tuition will cover 24.8 percent of operational costs, a 0.6 percent increase from the 2011-12 tuition.
Graduates find value, jobs
Recent surveys show a majority of graduates of Wisconsin’s technical colleges are satisfied with their education and feel it is a good value. Our graduates usually find work within six months of graduation and earn good salaries. These graduates also have fewer student loans to repay. All in all, technical education is a good investment for students and for the state in workforce development leading to economic development.
