Workers Need More Educational Options

by Dan Clancy, System President, Wisconsin Technical College System

A Monday editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal supporting a pilot program to offer baccalaureate degree programs at University of Wisconsin two-year colleges missed an opportunity to highlight the true potential of the proposed degree as a new educational option for Wisconsin’s workers as a baccalaureate completion program for thousands of technical college graduates.

The Editorial Board notes that that the idea behind the new degree is “to target adults and non-traditional students…” and to build upon “existing credits earned previously through the technical [colleges or two-year UW Colleges]“ by adding new courses and awarding college credit for skills and knowledge acquired in the workplace.  If adults and non-traditional students with strong occupational skills are the target audience, admitting technical college associate degree graduate as juniors into the new degree program will ensure a well-prepared, abundant pool of qualified students.