Local firefighters learn dangers of hybrid vehicles

From weau.com: “Local firefighters learn dangers of hybrid vehicles when responding to crashes”  — You’ve probably seen more hybrid vehicles and even hybrid buses zipping around town lately.

And that means local firefighters are training on how the vehicles operate in case there’s a crash.

Thursday morning, there were shiny new green-friendly cars, lined up and ready for a spin.

But the vehicles weren’t at a car dealership; they were at Eau Claire Fire Station #9.

“With hybrid vehicles they have new technology which creates different issues for us,” said Eau Claire Fire and Rescue Lt. Bob Pratt.

Lt. Pratt showed firefighters and students from CVTC the ins and outs of the rides.

“Where the high voltage batteries are located, the high voltage cables, how they run within the motor itself, where the airbag systems are,” Lt. Pratt said.

Two handicapped-accessible vehicles, four hybrid cars and one hybrid city bus were all on loan this week for the training.

Although the cars cut down on gas, they do provide new dangers to firefighters responding to an emergency.

One of those dangers is how firefighters cut out a person trapped in a vehicle.

Lt. Pratt said the orange colored cables in hybrid engines have high voltage going through them.

“And if we were to cut those cables, there’s potential that you’re going to have a high voltage displacement. Which means you could potentially be electrocuted,” Lt. Pratt said.

He said hands-on experience for the firefighters means less fear when they respond to a crash.

“The more that they’re out there, the more there’s potential to be involved in accidents and that’s why we’re doing the training,” Lt. Pratt said.

The two handicap-accessible vehicles came from A and J Mobility, the hybrid cars came from Markquart Motors, Eau Claire Ford and Ken Vance Motors.

The hybrid bus came from Eau Claire Transit.

View video from weau.com

NTC offers ‘Trends in Mobile Technology’ seminar

From agriview.com: ‘Trends in Mobile Technology’ seminar offered April 5″ — Northcentral Technical College (NTC), UW-Oshkosh and the Partnership for Progressive Agriculture are teaming up to present a “Trends in Mobile Technology” seminar on April 5 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the NTC Center for Business and Industry, Wausau.

The event will open with a 90-minute presentation that will cover how smartphone popularity is changing the way business is conducted. Topics will include the benefits of mobile technology and how to build strategy in iOS and Android platforms to aid growth and profitability.

The seminar will close with an agricultural and business panel from 10 to 10:30 a.m., during which experts in education, business and agriculture will discuss the latest trends and information in mobile technology.The cost is $20 and includes a light breakfast and refreshments. Seminar registration price is waived for current UW-Oshkosh MBA students.

Recycle electronics at Moraine Park

From fdlreporter.com: “Recycle your electronics at Moraine Park” — Moraine Park Technical College’s IT Club will be holding its E-cycle event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus.

Items can be dropped off at the campus courtyard, closest to the intersection of Johnson Street and University Drive. Accepted items include: Monitors, laptops, servers, TV’s, printers/fax/scanners, computers, video game consoles, mice/keyboards, cell phones, MP3 players/iPods, phones, DVD players, VCRs, cable boxes, satellite dishes, vacuum cleaners (without bag), coffee makers, bread makers, irons, hair dryers, radios, clocks and much more.

All batteries must be removed from all items including cordless/rechargeable products.

Items not accepted include curling irons, refrigerators, dish washers, stoves and household batteries.

A full list of items can be viewed by emailing Lisa Pollard at lpollard@morainepark.edu.

Summer opportunities abound at Wisconsin’s tech colleges

From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: Find summer opportunities at MSTC” — In the last couple of weeks, it seems like everyone is talking about the weather. I have heard people saying things like, “When is it going to stop snowing?” “When will it finally be spring?” “Will the weather ever turn nice?” “I was planting my garden last year at this time.” “I wore shorts on St. Patrick’s Day last year.” And so on.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you when the weather will change, only that I’m sure it will. This anticipation of summer weather has us thinking about summer school opportunities at Mid-State Technical College. As a matter of fact, we think the summer session has something for everyone.

Many students find that our summer session provides the opportunity to focus on just one course rather than several courses at once. Delivery options include face-to-face, video-conferenced classes and online instruction.

If you are a college student who is at home for the summer, many of these courses are transferable to other colleges or universities. Please check with your college to see if they accept these transfer opportunities.

Another option is the chance to work on your basic skills in the Academic Success Center, or ASC. Staff members are available to help you brush up on basic skills in computers, math or language, or to help you improve your entry-level scores for admission to an MSTC program. Maybe your college admissions test did not come out as well as you would have preferred or you would just like to upgrade your skills in a particular area for work

MSTC’s summer session would allow you to enroll in a class that may have been filled during the fall or spring semester, enroll in a class to update and enhance your professional skills, earn credits that will transfer to other colleges and universities or take a class in an environment in which classes are often smaller and less formal.

For an enjoyable and rewarding summer experience, consider joining us at MSTC. Visit us online at mstc.edu or, better yet, stop by Marshfield Campus at 2600 W. Fifth St. and register for summer classes or get more information about any of these options. We look forward to seeing you here.

Brenda Dillenburg is dean of the Mid-State Technical College campus in Marshfield.

Educators can tour tech college programs

From wisconsinrapidstribune.com: “Educators can tour tech college programs” — Local kindergarten through grade 12 educators will have the opportunity to tour Mid-State Technical College and four other technical colleges during the week of June 17 to 21.

Registration has begun for a statewide collaborative offering graduate credit for increasing awareness of Wisconsin Technical College System, or WTCS, programs and services.

Teachers, counselors and administrators participating in the week-long Tours of Excellence visit a different technical college each day for hands-on learning about the programs and services available to students, as well as the 21st century career options that await WTCS graduates. Tour participants complete an action plan for disseminating what they’ve learned, and will earn 3 graduate credits from Marian University in Fond du Lac.

The tours are planned on a regional basis to allow for broad participation with local partners. Tours are broken into north, central and south sections, and space is limited to 30 individuals per section.

A participant of the 2012 Tour of Excellence said, “I feel much more prepared to share the opportunities for jobs and associate degrees that the technical colleges offer, as well as suggesting programs I feel my students would excel in.”

“Participants complete the tours with 3 graduate credits and an increased understanding of the great career and entrepreneurship opportunities available through MSTC and other WTCS programs,” said new student specialist Lana Mallek.

Additional information and online registration is available at www.fvtc.edu/wtcstour.

Forestry program provides graduates for a growing industry

From wjfw.com: “Forestry program provides graduates for a growing industry” — Antigo – The first graduating class from a Northwoods forestry program will receive their diplomas this May, and most of them have job offers.

It’s a program that’s taking the forest industry to another level.

But it’s not just about the trees.

It’s about jobs. “We’re just trying to develop the best possible people for this industry that we can,” said Brown.

Northcentral Technical College’s Wood Tech program is teaching future forest industry employees, right in Antigo.

“The equipment that we have here on the floor, the curriculum that we teach here at NTC is very unique, and it is cutting edge. It’s what employers are looking for when they’re hiring new employees,” said instructor Travis Allen.

The forestry industry job market looks good too.

With almost 60 thousand jobs in Wisconsin in 2011, compared to 52 thousand in 2010, according to the DNR.

Oradei sees it as a sustainable job market too.

“It’s a very desirable industry to be involved with; you’re always working with a renewable resource,” said Oradei.

Brown is happy to see business growing.

“Business has picked up in the united states and worldwide, so it’s getting a lot more fun,” said Brown.

Sixteen students in Travis Allen’s class are hearing from employers too.

“A week ago I had three different employers contact us for skilled employees, and the nice thing is our curriculum is covering exactly what they want to hire on,” said Allen.

Upgrades moving forward at FVTC

From postcrescent.com: “Upgrades moving forward at FVTC” – Last April, residents approved a referendum totaling $66,525,000 that authorized Fox Valley Technical College to expand facilities.

Behind the referendum was a growing demand for training that current facilities are not able to meet, said Chris Jossart, spokesman for the college.

He said that FVTC fills a vital role in providing skilled workers needed by regional employers to stay competitive. In addition to proving themselves, Jossart said, “the program areas involved have been through a rigorous analysis of industry growth projections.”

Construction on the health simulation and technology center began already last October. Spring will see the start of construction on the public safety training center and the student success center, as well as expansions of the agriculture center and the J. J. Keller Transportation Center. The projects have varying completion dates, starting with fall of this year and continuing through spring of 2015.

A little more than half the funding will be spent on the Public Safety Training Center, the flagship project of the referendum.

“The 93,000 square-foot facility, created in partnership with the Outagamie County Regional Airport, will address capacity needs for training in law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services,” Jossart said.

The health technology center will open first, Jossart said, welcoming students at the min campus in Grand Chute this fall.

“The center will allow students from several programs to better use human patient simulators to prepare for realistic health care and emergency situations within a virtual hospital setting,” he said.

The student center project will provide needed space for supplemental instruction, tutoring, and academic support, Jossart said. The central core of the main campus will be remodeled to create the center, he said.

Space for vehicle inspection and maintenance was behind the expansion of the J.J. Keller Transportation Center, Jossart said. The expansion also allows the college to accept more students.

There is a waiting list, and demand from employers is high for truck driving, diesel technology and automotive technology graduates, he said. The public safety training center is expected to alleviate some of these challenges, too.

An 87 percent jump in enrollment in the last four years in agri-business, the state’s largest industry, required expansion of the agriculture center, Jossart said.

The public referendum also included the purchase of land in Oshkosh and buying the college’s Chilton Regional Center, which was formerly leased, to accommodate future program and campus growth. The Chilton purchase freed up operating dollars to build a small expansion made necessary by enrollment growth of 36 percent since 2008.

Jossart said later this year there are “a number of initiatives to enhance our partnership with K12 education systems to prepare young learners for the skills today’s employers need.”

Statewide, he said, employers are seeking professionals with two-year degrees to a greater extent than ever before.

“We are strategically developing new directives to guide the next generation workforce,” he said.

 

Technical colleges head likes Walker’s budget incentives

From wpr.org: “Technical colleges head likes Walker’s budget incentives” — The head of Wisconsin’s technical colleges told state lawmakers yesterday that she supports the way Governor Walker’s budget would tie future state funding to performance.

Under Walker’s plan, the amount of state money tech schools receive would be tied to factors like how many students they place in the workforce and the number of degrees they award in high-demand fields. Wisconsin Technical College System President Morna Foy says it should lead to increased funding for tech schools, since these are already areas where they excel.

“I think the hope is that it’s going to make an easier decision and a more likely decision that new resources allocations to the technical college system will be seen as an investment from the state in which you are getting some great return.”

Democrats pointed out that Walker’s budget would boost funding for technical colleges by just $5 million in this budget, after cutting them by $71 million in the last.

NTC students learn from Weston fire

From wausaudailyherald.com: “NTC students learn from Weston fire” — WESTON — A house in Weston burned to the ground March 16 in front of a group of firefighters — only this time, they meant for that to happen.

Fire science students and instructors from Northcentral Technical College and firefighters from several local fire departments gathered at a house on 5000 block of Ross Avenue in Weston to implement a controlled burn as practice for 32 NTC students.

The event was the first live fire exercise for Jackie Wagner, 31, a fire science student at NTC. She said the experience went more quickly and more smoothly than she was expecting.

“The instructors know what they’re doing and are helping us through it,” she said. “I figured I would be scared, and I wasn’t scared at all. It’s an adrenaline rush.”

Instructors, with the help of local firefighters, set eight small fires inside the house before they burned down the structure. With each fire, four students and two firefighters practiced attacking the fire, ventilating the house, clearing the smoke with water and fans, and finally putting out the fire.

The entire exercise ran for about six hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., as dozens of bystanders and neighbors stopped to watch the scene and take some photos and videos.

Adam Grahn, 29, also an NTC fire science student, had been through a live fire exercise several years ago, but he said he still found the experience helpful for building confidence while being in a burning and smoky building.

“Every burn is a little bit different, so you always learn something new,” he said.

NTC fire science instructor Doug Jennings said the school does between four and six live fire exercises a year. The owner of the house donates it to the school and pays for inspection fees and debris removal after the house has been burned, so it’s a good deal for NTC, Jennings said.

“It’s a win-win situation for the owner and the school,” he said. “We get a place to practice, and the owner doesn’t have to pay demolition costs.”

Jennings said NTC will run another fire exercise in Merrill in April.

Police and EMS prepare for the worst

From wsaw.com: “Simulating an unthinkable tragedy” — The campus of Midstate Technical College appears quiet and peaceful on this Sunday afternoon when suddenly the calm is broken by the sounds of a simulated chaos.

This was a day in which police officers and EMS personnel could train for the unthinkable. While first responders are trained frequently about how to handle these situations, today was an opportunity for them to put the skills they have learned into a real world scenario.

“We are teaching the police officers how to take care of themselves and their partners if they get injured. It is also to be able to treat the public in mass casualty situations where people need to be rapidly treated and extricated out to the various hospital facilities around the state.” said event organizer Chad Stiles.

The training involved three separate scenarios including a shooting at a church, a school, as well as a bomb situation. Even the Aspirus medical helicopter was on hand to aid in the training process.
The program was put on by the Waukesha County Technical College, which has a class teaching first responders how to act in mass casualty situations. They are taking training around the state to reach many different police and fire departments. Since Waukesha County Technical College is located just one town over from the site of two recent mass shootings, today’s training hits home for many of its leadership staff.

“Me and my partner co-instructor were actually at the Azana Spa shooting. So, for us those kind of events have happened in our back door. We are trying to bring forth the knowledge we have learned in these events.” Stiles said.

As jarring as it may be to see these scenes play out, we can be thankful that todays guns were made of plastic, the blood was nothing more than red tape, and that the screams for help were made by actors. However today’s training does prove that if the unimaginable was ever to happen in Central Wisconsin, those we trust most to uphold the peace would be able to restore it as soon as possible.

 

New administrator offers outlook for CVTC’s future

From riverfallsjournal.com: “New administrator offers outlook for CVTC’s future” — Since starting at Chippewa Valley Technical College in January, Campus Administrator/Dean Beth Hein has been busy mapping the future.

According to Hein, CVTC is looking to add or tweak existing programs, but is just at the “initial blush of research.”

CVTC staff have looked at job prospect statistics as well as which colleges offer which degree programs.

Hein, who lives in the Menomonie area, said the next step is to talk to area businesses to see what they need in their workforce.

This will be done through focus groups and other research-gathering techniques, with the goal being to find out if needs match the research. Health care, manufacturing, and general business are areas that Hein mentioned.

Hein says the biggest thing the future holds for CVTC is “helping businesses find the qualified employees they need.”

She sees the River Falls campus continuing with a broad spectrum of degree programs that “mirror the community.”

CVTC plans to “gear programming toward jobs of the community,” she said.

Hein, who worked at the CVTC Eau Claire campus previously, says that “River Falls’ needs are different that Eau Claire’s.”

She said that there are different jobs and requirements in each area. The benefit of the technical college is that it can be tailored to regional needs, said Hein.

Hein, who attended CVTC as well as UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire, would like to see CVTC “open the pathways” to students, by continuing partnerships with the UW systems, for transfers and partnering with the high school for dual credit classes.

Hein sees the technical college as a great place for students to get the help they need to get them to the place they want to be.

When asked what the typical student is like at CVTC, Hein said that it has a diverse student population — from 18-19 year olds, to dislocated older workers who were either laid off or injured, to college graduates looking to change careers or not finding jobs in their degree area to those seeking continuing education.

Hein, the mother of two, says that the students “…are as diverse as the community and all come with different backgrounds and stories.”

Besides increasing the educational opportunities offered, CVTC will also be adding on to the campus. Though Hein did say that the building addition will go “hand-in-hand” with the new programs that are added, no concrete plans are set.

Even with the increase in programs and the expanded square footage, Hein would like to see the campus retain its “small campus feel.”

Hein, who worked in human resources for 10 years at both large and small businesses, went on to say that she would like to make CVTC a “more comprehensive campus.”

When asked if the economy has made a technical college a good option for students, Hein said that the technical college focuses on “living wage jobs.”

She also said that CVTC has high placement rates — 92% of graduates are employed, with 89% employed in a related field.

Hein said she is “excited to get involved in the community,” and has had a positive overall impression of River Falls. She likes the small town atmosphere — but more importantly she likes that it is “…in close proximity to more resources. You get the best of both worlds.”

Ag instructor: Crop prices are driving up land prices

From lacrossetribune.com: “Farmland prices booming across region” —Agricultural land prices are booming in the Coulee Region and across the nation, prompting some experts to worry that farm expansion could be creating an agricultural bubble.

West-central Wisconsin sold more agricultural acreage than any other part of the state in 2012, for an average of $3,246 an acre. Most land was purchased for continued farm use.

Crop prices are driving up land prices, said Dennis Deitelhoff, a farm business production management instructor with Western Technical College.

Some farmers are expanding, trying to make the most of crop prices while the getting is good.

But if crop prices sputter and farmland loan rates rise, farmers could find themselves in the midst of a bust similar to the housing collapse.

“I think that land values will correct,” Deitelhoff said. “That’s just natural economics.”

Nationally, farmer-held debt is expected to reach $277.4 billion this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture — more than $60 billion more than 2007.

For farmers looking to cash out, current land prices have them in line for some sweet deals. But the high values carry risk for expanding farmers looking down the road.

Locally, Deitelhoff believes that expansion has been managed well.

“Most of the people making these land purchases are making them because they can,” he said. “The lion’s share are being made by those who have the wherewithal to do it.”

More than 20,000 acres of farmland in the west-central region, which includes La Crosse, Jackson, Trempealeau, and Buffalo counties, were sold for continued agricultural purposes in 2011, according to Department of Agriculture statistics.

That’s almost double the amount sold for the same purpose in 2009.

Purchasing escalated despite rising prices. Since 2007, average prices per acre have jumped $500. In addition to crop prices, sand mining and development demand have continued to buoy land values.

Farmers looking to cash out are in line to reap the profits of high values. However, current prices can make it difficult for aspiring land owners to break into farming.

Perhaps it makes sense that some new landowners have more interest in finances than farming; investors are buying land and then renting it to farmers, using rent to reap profits.

In November, a division of the Swiss bank UBS purchased 9,800 acres in Grant County for $68 million dollars.

While international players haven’t entered the La Crosse area, local investors have begun to take an interest in farmland.

Teresa Gutenberger, a senior appraiser with Badgerland Financial in Sparta, said that such owners, while uncommon, have begun to snap up area farmland.

Prices vary across state, nation

While the west-central region sold the most agricultural acreage in the state, its prices ranked in the middle of the pack. The state average for 2012 was $3,602 per acre.

“Location is an important determinant of value,” the report said.

The east-central region, which includes Fox Cities and Green Bay, had the highest average land prices at $5,228 per acre. The north-central region, stretching north from Clark and Marathon counties, had the lowest average prices, only $2,176 per acre.

The report cited increased competition for land use as the major factor influencing values.

Dairy farmers haven’t benefited from the increase, Dietelhoff said. Their prices haven’t kept pace with crops.

Cropland value jumped 7.1 percent in the state from 2011 to 2012, while pasture land value inched up 1.9 percent, according to USDA statistics.

Wisconsin’s growth lags behind the nation and rest of the Midwest.

Farm real estate value, which projects the value of a farm’s land and buildings, rose 7.4 percent, below the national average of 10.4 percent.

Minnesota saw a 20.9 percent jump; Iowa’s was even steeper, at 22.8 percent.

 

Wisconsin Baby Boomers returning to college

From matctimes.com: “It’s strange being older than your teachers!” — Baby boomers are coming here to further their education or start a career. Not having grown up in the high tech age, vital skills are being sought to keep them at par with the current workforce. Educational dreams are being fulfilled as a wave of boomers head back to college – at MATC. The timing couldn’t be better.

There are 76 million boomers; post World War II babies born between 1946 and 1964. Many unsure of what Social Security or Medicare holds for them, laid off, widowed, divorced, displaced; they are improving their future with an education, and technical colleges are a great way for them to quickly gain skills or a new career.

Decades ago, people 50 and over wouldn’t even dream of going to college or working at a job after they hit 65. Not so today- they are an untapped market with tremendous potential, “The number of students ages 50 to 64 increased 17 percent nationwide between fall 2007 and fall 2009,” according to the latest data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and, “An increasing number of people ages 50 and up are headed to community college — 388,000 were enrolled nationwide in fall 2009,” the most recent data available from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

The Wisconsin Technical College System report #VE215310 affirms that those 50 and over are responding to the call of further education. The following are four area technical colleges with their corresponding percentage of boomer admissions: MATC – 9.2%, Gateway – 10.2%, Moraine Park – 18.6%, and Waukesha – 20%. A productive 15 to 20 more years in the workforce after graduation is not unrealistic, and many who have stayed home to raise their families want to get out to begin their postponed careers.

Walter Lanier of the Counseling and Advising Center, who heads up the Diversity Council which meets twice a month said, “While age has not really been discussed (at the meetings), age diversity is well represented.” Diversity is not only ethnicity, religion, or race, it is also age. Older students bring a wealth of life experience and motivation to help younger students to succeed. They enrich any campus.

Due to a major accident and divorce, “Jay,” a 53-year- old full-time student in the Human Services program at the Downtown Milwaukee campus needed to change his field. He considered MATC because of its “reputation, cost, convenience, and diversity.” A Pell grant is paying all of his expenses and he even got a refund. Jay said, “I would feel uncomfortable without the diversity….I feel at home here.”
Douglas Koput, 49, is in the Electronic Technology program at the Downtown Milwaukee campus.  He was laid off from his job and needed additional skills. Convenience of the college made his decision to attend here, and also received help from a Pell grant. He was nervous at first and started with just two classes, and after getting an A in both, he had the confidence to continue. His advice to prospective boomers, “Start out slow to be sure.”
Having her job move out of the country and becoming a dislocated worker, “Mary,” 53, receives full tuition through a program with unemployment. She is in the Medical Administrative Specialist program at the West Allis campus and attends full time. She finds the professors “great” and does not feel intimidated by the younger students. Her advice, “Don’t be afraid, you are never too old to learn something.”
Underpaid and underappreciated in his current job, A.D. Owens, 49, wanted something better. He is attending full time in the Teacher Education program downtown.  “MATC had the program I wanted,” said Owens. He was “tired of just having a job,” he wanted “a career.” A Pell grant helps pay his tuition, and he is very proud to be on the Dean’s List. After the initial insecurities, he was confident in his abilities and wants other boomers to know that, “This is the time to go. Make the decision and come to MATC.”
There is probably a boomer in one or more of your classes – encourage them, learn from them, give a smile to let them know that this is their college too.

Older students welcomed at technical colleges

From rivernewsonline.com: “Nicolet College hosts ‘Return to Learning’ event” — On Thursday night, Nicolet College held “Returning to Learning” an event designed to give adults and others returning to school after being out of school for any period of time all the information they need in order to enroll at Nicolet.

“It’s a great event because they can come to one place and talk to everybody. They can talk to someone about financial aid, career assessment and find out about all the other services we have going on here,” said Nancy Burns, placement specialist and career coach at Nicolet.

This is the fourth “Returning to Learning” event Nicolet College has held since beginning the program two years ago. Nicolet holds the event in the spring and in the fall.

“We try to tailor the event for people who are coming back to school after being out of school for a while,” said Sandy Kinney, executive director of communications and college and community initiatives. “All of the research and studies on people going back is that adult returning learners have different learning concerns than people coming out of high school, so we wanted to do an event that would address what their concerns are and what their needs are.”

Where similar events for high school students are highly structured with presentations and tours, “Returning to Learning” is a drop-in event designed to accommodate the busy schedules of those looking to go back to school.

“Adults are busy. They’re squeezing this in between things, and they need to be able to just come in, get the answers to the questions they need, skip the things they don’t need, and be able to leave again,” said Kinney. “So we set it up in this open time format so people could drop in at the end of the day, after work or after dinner, whatever works for them.”

Kinney said visitors to the event have usually put a lot of thought into going back to school, but they need more answers and information before deciding to enroll. Additionally, the event is a steppingstone for potential students. It begins a dialogue between students and the college, allowing the Nicolet staff to guide the individual through the admission and enrollment process, answering any questions along the way.

“We see people that are serious about coming back to school,” said Kinney. “Research will show that adults typically will take two to three years from the time they start thinking about going back to school to when they actually do it. So we see people at different stages in that process. Some that are just kind of playing with the idea, wondering, ‘What do you have at Nicolet, I know I’m not moving somewhere to go to school…so what do you have?’ and we have that, all the way to people who walk in the door and say, ‘I know exactly what I want. I want to enroll in this program, and can I start this summer?’ So there’s a whole range.”

A variety of Nicolet staff members, including deans, instructors, career coaches and academic advisors, as well as faculty members to help with financial aid and admission questions, were on hand to meet the needs of any individual who stopped in.

Several academic advisors were available to answer questions about coursework, credits and transfer options. The advisors also were able to tell students if they qualified to receive credits for prior learning or work experiences.

Tom Raykovich, a transitions counselor at Nicolet, was available to help answer any enrollment questions potential students might have. Raykovich, who runs the assessment center at Nicolet, said he helps students prepare for placement testing in order to make sure they enroll in classes that match their abilities.

“We take students no matter where their skills are, and we get them where they need to be,” said Raykovich.

This differs from the UW System, where a certain ACT score is usually required for enrollment consideration.

“We test, but just to find out where the skills are, and then we figure out where to place them. It’s an open-door policy,” said Raykovich.

Financial Aid Director Jill Price answered questions students had about financial aid, and gave them advice on how they could pay for college.

“Most of our students, without financial aid, wouldn’t be able to afford college,” she said.”We talk about the options they have and give them information.”

Price stressed to potential students the importance of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which allows students to be eligible for federal grants and loans. She said students often think they won’t qualify for FAFSA loans and grants, but she always tells them that, “They won’t know until they try.”

Kinney said many of the community members who attend this event eventually attend Nicolet .

“What we do see is that out of people who come to this event, a very high percentage end up enrolling,” she said.

Dean of Trade and Industry Brigitte Parsons said the event is about helping potential students find the answers to all of their questions about college enrollment.

“This is a place where they can come and explore, ask questions, find out, ‘How much money will I make if I major in welding or if I major in nursing?’ or ‘How quickly can I transfer to a university?’ so there’s a lot of questions we can answer on a night like this,” she said.

8 Wis. Technical Colleges awarded funds for laser equipment

From wsaw.com: “8 Wis. Technical Colleges awarded funds for laser equipment” — Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson says eight Wisconsin Technical College System schools will be awarded nearly $105,000 to to purchase precision laser alignment tools to help train apprentices in manufacturing and address the skills gap.

“The funding is another example of our continuing efforts to equip workers with the latest skills, empowering them for employment in family supporting jobs,” Secretary Newson said. “With the grants, our workforce partners in the technical colleges can purchase high tech, laser equipment to train apprentices for good jobs in the skilled trades.”

Grants of $13,100 each are being awarded to Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, North Central Technical College in Wausau, Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Waukesha Technical College, and Milwaukee Area Technical College.

The U.S. Department of Labor funds will go to purchase precision laser alignment tools for rotating machinery. Precision laser alignment is a common testing procedure in maintaining manufacturing equipment and ensuring production efficiency. The colleges will use the equipment to train apprentices in training for occupations as machine repairer, maintenance mechanic, millwright and pipefitter.

Tech college tuition going up

From wkow.com: “Tech college tuition going up” — Students will have to pay more at the state’s tech colleges starting next year.

The Wisconsin Technical College System approved a statewide tuition increase Wednesday of 4.5%

That means the average student will pay about $3,500 a year.

Wisconsin Technical College System President Morna Foy says “To an individual who is trying to figure out how to support their kids,  they are trying to figure out how to pay their gas bill to and from work, which is the life that most of our students find themselves, every dollar is important.”

Foy says they did what they could to limit the increase.

Another big focus of the meeting was how to close the skills gap in the state.

View video from wkow.com

 

Governor wants new maritime industry facility

From fox11online.com: “Governor wants new maritime industry facility” — MARINETTE – Governor Scott Walker says the Maritime Center of Excellence could set the tone for future maritime industry growth throughout the area.

“You have shipbuilders or ship building-related industries all around the Bay,” said Walker at an event in De Pere Tuesday. “And so, that’s a large-scale, regional interest in making sure we have enough highly skilled workers in that area. So for all those reasons, it’s critically important.”

Governor Walker wants to build the facility in Marinette and has set aside millions of dollars in his proposed budget for it.

The proposed two story, 24,000 square foot building would house industry suppliers and act as a training facility and business incubator.

As part of his budget proposal, the governor recommends giving the Marinette County Association for Business and Industry – or MCABI – $5 million in grants.

The association has another $6.6 million in local, state, federal and private matching funds.

“This is going to be one more step towards supplying and supporting the maritime industry in Northeast Wisconsin,” said Ann Hartnell, Executive Director of the MCABI.

Hartnell says the facility would be a partnership between the region’s shipbuilding industries and educational institutions like Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

But why build a new facility?

The North Coast Marine Manufacturing Training Center opened in Marinette last year.

The joint venture of the seven shipbuilders, including Marinette Marine Corporation and NWTC provides employee and student training.

“One thing the [proposed] maritime cluster gives is a feasibility of success in that type of a thing that sometimes was lacking in the past, and funding for it that was lacking in the past,” explained Hartnell.

“I think (the Maritime Center of Excellence) just builds off it,” said Walker.

The governor says the proposed center will help the region compete against other shipbuilders across the country like Austal USA, Marinette Marine’s main competitor for naval contracts.

“We want to make sure we don’t lose our ability – not just to keep those jobs – but as more jobs become apparent, we want to make sure we’re competitive with any other place, any other location that would make a bid,” said Walker.

The governor says he’s optimistic the recommendation will be in the final budget. Hartnell says the facility could be up and running by 2014.

FOX 11 reached out to Marinette Marine. Company leaders were unavailable for comment.

MATC students win broadcasters awards

From mptv.org: “MPTV students win Wisconsin Broadcasters Association “Student Awards for Excellence” — At the annual Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Student awards event in March, several Milwaukee Area Technical College Television and Video Production students won a WBA Student Award for Excellence.
*Paul Cotter, James Gale and Will Picard won first place in the Long Form Production Non-News (TV) category for Bob Reitman: Radio On.
*Jeff Morris and Joe Pfaff won second place in the Long Form Production Non-News (TV) category for Stormwatch-Creative Package.

“We are thrilled that our students were honored with both the first and second place awards in the Long Form Production Non-News category this year,” said Kevin Pulz, the program coordinator of MATC’s Television and Video Production program. “The Reitman program created by Paul, Will and James was not only an excellent student program, but its production quality is equal to many professional productions on the air today.”

For over 50 years, students enrolled in the Television and Video Production associate degree program at Milwaukee Area Technical College have trained alongside the broadcast professionals at Milwaukee Public Television. This allows for hands-on work experience at a large, professional, state-of-the-art broadcast facility while under the guidance of television professionals who function both as producers and directors as well as instructors.

 

Kestrel collaborates with WITC to train workers

From northlandsnewscenter.com: “Kestrel shows off air craft” — Duluth has Cirrus Aircraft and now Superior will have Kestrel.

Tonight the CEO for Kestrel spoke with people about his company and even let them have a peek inside one of the planes.

The company is collaborating with WITC to give workers the necessary skills to build these air crafts.

WITC applied and received a 600 thousand dollar grant to start working with the company to produce the planes.

“What they also explained was that they would also be needing a number of composite technology technicians, people who can layer upon layer of carbon fiber and infuse resins and hardners create that and create the parts necessary to do this,” said Dr. Charlie Glazman Associate Dean in continuing Education at WITC.

This will be the first program like it in the state of Wisconsin which is set to take off this fall.

Nicolet students excel at state business competition

From nicoletcollege.edu: “Nicolet students excel at state business competition” — Eight Nicolet College students earned high honors at a recent statewide Business Professionals of America (BPA) competition that had them testing their skills in a wide variety of disciplines from office applications to computer network and web design.                  

Students earning honors include first row, left to right, Vicky Hunter, Robert Klitzka, Kyle Mickelson; back row, Jordan Slominski, Micah Roberts, and David Larson. Other students earning honors but not pictured include Phyllis Mickelson, and Dylan Gallus. All students are from Rhinelander.

The 2013 competition was held at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay.

Students were tested on many levels of knowledge and skills in areas such as word processing, accounting, legal and medical office procedures, interviewing and speaking, insurance concepts, human resources, computer networks, web design and many others. Besides the competitions, the three-day event also included electing new officers, leadership seminars, and some time for fun and networking with students from other schools.

Business Professionals of America is the leading Career Technical Student Organization for those pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. BPA has more than 51,000 members nationwide. Their mission is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills.

 

Changing economy means embracing continual learning

From postcrescent.com: “Changing economy means embracing continual learning” — More than two decades working as a bricklayer was enough for Mark Vander Velden.

When construction activity dried up during the recession, it became more clear to Vander Velden he needed a career switch, but at 50 he wondered if learning new skills for a new career was still possible.

“I haven’t been in a classroom since high school so it was a little nerve-wracking to even think about going back,” said Vander Velden, who lives outside Hortonville.

Vander Velden checked out Fox Valley Technical College in 2011 and hasn’t looked back. He enrolled in the electromechanical program that year and expects to graduate this fall.

Vander Velden said he’s best at hands-on learning, which is a big part of the program he selected.

“It was great to be learning about all the different kinds of programming controllers and hydraulic systems I could potentially be working with,” he said.

Workforce training

Vander Velden isn’t alone. The median age of FVTC’s students are in their early 30s, which means the college serves many people like Vander Velden who want to update current job skills or try a different career, said Chris Matheny, vice president of instructional services at FVTC.

Matheny said keeping workers’ skills updated is the college’s ongoing mission and with the business environment in constant flux, the college also must be in regular communication with the community to ensure its programs are meeting regional needs.

“Our purpose really is to make sure that we’re always talking to our employers and get out as much as possible to ensure we’re giving them the skilled workers they need,” Matheny said.

Matheny said FVTC has advisory groups it regularly consults with to keep its programs up to date.

Appleton-based Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is one of its business partners. Miller has worked with FVTC on a variety of training programs for its own workers and on initiatives to enhance manufacturing training for other regional employers.

“A well-trained workforce is a competitive advantage that differentiates us from other global companies and prevents us from experiencing significant skill gaps due to future retirements of our baby boomers and to meet our future growth requirements,” said Mike Weller, president of Miller Electric.

 

Gateway Tech proposed public safety training facility could cut costs for law enforcement

From journaltimes.com: “Gateway asks voters for go-ahead on $15.6M public safety training facility” — RACINE COUNTY — In both size and scope, a new state-of-the-art public safety training center sits atop the list of projects included in the $49 million referendum proposed by Gateway Technical College.

As the most expensive single item in the proposal, school officials say the $15.6 million facility would not only provide better instruction to new officers and deputies but also draw in more experienced first responders, from southeastern Wisconsin and beyond, looking for specialized training in areas like tactical driving and active shooter situations.

In 2007, the college opened its law enforcement academy after renovating portions of their Kenosha campus at 3520 30th Ave. It offers programs for both incoming officers and deputies who are required by the state to undergo 520 hours of training as well as to veteran officers.

Racine Police Chief Art Howell said that his department currently sends its new officers to the academy but sparingly uses the facilities in Kenosha to provide specialized training to its veteran officers.

“We send people all over the state now and it’s expensive to do that,” Howell said. “Obviously if we had a high-caliber institution around here it would be cost effective for us to use that.”

Renovating the current campus back in 2007 meant converting a basement storage room into a five-lane, 50-foot shooting range and holding Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) training in the parking lot at Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha.

The current proposal calls for a new 24-lane, 150-foot shooting range and an on-site driving course complete with simulated intersections, street lights and highway ramps.

Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke said that veteran officers in the state are required to undergo 24 hours of annual training, some of which is done in-house, but also must take four hours of biennial tactical driving training. That has meant sending officers out to technical colleges in Waukesha or Fox Valley.

“A lot of things they’re planning on doing are already being done around the state but just aren’t available here locally,” Marschke said. “With training budgets in a crunch and gas almost $4 a gallon, sending officers to other spots in the state just gets very, very expensive.”

A final location for the facility has not been selected yet, according to Gateway’s President Bryan Albrecht, but sites in Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties are also being investigated. Voters in those counties will vote on the referendum April 2.

Marschke said that regardless of what county is selected, it would likely mean a 50 percent reduction in the costs associated with sending an officer to training like gas, lodging and overtime pay.

The proposal would also replace the current simulated city, composed of a couple storefronts, with a three-block simulated city. A new facility would also enable the college to build labs for crime scene investigation, something not currently offered in Kenosha.

Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling wrote in an email that he is very pleased with the current training Gateway provides but would benefit from a closer facility and additional course offerings. Mount Pleasant Police Chief Tim Zarzecki also said that he is in support of expanding training at Gateway.

An expanded physical training area and a larger, dedicated classroom may also mean adding an additional class at the school, according to Provost Zina Haywood.

Albrecht said he doesn’t anticipate finding any problems with filling another class because of the number of applicants the college already turns away, in part because state statute caps classes at 24 students and some of the facilities are shared by other programs on the Kenosha campus.

Overall, the college has estimated that a new facility would lead to a 15 percent increase in enrollment and could not only help keep local officers from going elsewhere but could mean other revenue coming from agencies outside of the district.

Marschke said that he agrees and would like to see the area become a training hub like the counties he currently sends his officers to.

“It’s really a good opportunity to have something here locally for our law enforcement that serves our residents to have a state-of-the-art training facility,” Marschke said. “I think we’ll draw agencies outside of the district as well.”

 

Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn

From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn” — Career and technical education is a cooperative effort between technical colleges and employers. Students receive instruction and training in the classroom and also with local employers through internships, externships and clinical rotations. These real-world skills and experiences help graduates be better prepared to enter or re-enter the world of work.

Mid-State Technical College offers certificates, technical diplomas and associate degrees in more than 100 areas.

MSTC graduates enjoy careers in many industries and service areas in all of our communities. Some examples include law enforcement and corrections officers, surgical technologists, manufacturing and electronic technicians, welders, registered nurses, automotive technicians, accountants, cosmetologists, urban foresters, business managers, supervisors, marketing professionals, computer programmers, medical assistants, respiratory therapists and much more. As we look around at the businesses and industries in our community, it is easy to see the impact of career and technical education.

A technical college education is the training that is sought after and needed by employers in the 21st century. In fact, 93 percent of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with the education and training and would hire technical college graduates again.

The preparation provided at a technical college includes the necessary academic and technical skills to be highly productive employees in their field of choice.

The required technical skills are changing each and every year; many of these skills were unheard of a generation ago. We work with employers in our communities to stay abreast of changes and advances in technology so that these new tools and skills are incorporated into our programs.

In addition to offering programs of study to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow, technical colleges are well suited to offer just-in-time training and training aimed at upgrading employees’ skills.

Mid-State Technical College is your community’s college. Turn to us when you are ready to develop employee training or enter a program of study to earn your associate degree or technical diploma. MSTC’s Marshfield Campus is at 2600 W.Fifth St. in Marshfield. You may reach us at 715-387-2538 or visit our website at mstc.edu. Let us know how we can be of service to you.

Brenda Dillenburg is dean of the Mid-State Technical College campus in Marshfield.

Blackhawk Technical College promoting health and wellness

From wifr.com: “Blackhawk Technical College promoting health and wellness” — As another winter winds toward spring and individuals slowly let go of New Year’s resolutions geared toward maintaining a healthier lifestyle, Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) officials are stepping in to remind area residents that simple changes can make a big difference in their lives. On March 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., BTC will host its 10th annual Health Fair on the central campus within the north commons (6004 S. Cty Road G, Janesville, WI).

“This free event is a wonderful way to provide area residents with access to life-saving information and screenings, in an effort to help them make better health decisions,” said Colleen Koerth, Employment Specialist and member of the Health and Wellness Committee. “Too many people take their health for granted and don’t make time to take care of themselves.”

According to BTC’s Health and Wellness Committee, attendees will be able to gather information and experience some hands-on demonstrations done by area health vendors including relaxation techniques and chair massages, blood pressure checks, samples of natural and organic foods, flexibility assessments, dental health information, BMI monitoring, Zumba demos, herbal medicines and a variety of sports and fitness programs.

Although admission is free, attendees are encouraged to bring in their extra canned goods. A collection will be set up at the event for a local food pantry. All participants that bring in at least one canned good will be entered into a special drawing for an entertainment package. In addition to the vendors and food collection, BTC officials will also be awarding a number of door prizes and gift certificates throughout the day.

Area businesses and organizations that will be presenting a booth and donating a door prize are: a glo Spa & Salon, Agrace Hospice Care, AIDS Network, Alzheimer’s Support Center of Rock County, Anytime Fitness, Basics Cooperative, Beloit Health System, BioLife Plasma Services, Chiropractic Care Center of Beloit, SC, Community Action, Consumer Credit Counseling, Dean Health System, Edgerton Hospital, First Choice Women’s Health Center / Wisconsin Well Woman Program, Fit Pro Services/Advocare, Janesville Leisure Services, Janesville Mobilizing 4 Change, Jazzercise, Karate America, LG Wellness Consulting, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mercy Health Systems, NAMI of Rock County, Nutrition and Health Associates, Rock County Cancer Coalition, Rock County Health Department, SARP, Second Harvest Food Bank, Tastefully Simple, True Laser Ltd., Upper Iowa University-Blackhawk Ctr., YMCA of Northern Rock County, Yoga Plus, YWCA of Rock County and a variety of BTC programs.

“Blackhawk Technical College is a major part of this community,” added Koerth. “If this event helps one person make healthier choices, then we’ve achieved our goal.”

For more information about the BTC Health Fair, go to Blackhawk.edu or contact healthmds@blackhawk.edu.

Hands on learning for future firefighters

From wsaw.com: “Hands on learning for future firefighters” — Thirty-three students from Northcentral Technical College got a feel for what a real house fire is like during a live fire exercise in Weston. Northcentral Technical College partnered with local fire departments to provide an experience for students instructors say can’t be simulated.

“Today’s firemen and firewomen are coming out of our schools, a lot of them don’t have any live burn experience. Here we’re able to come outside the building, go into a real house and have students actually hear what dry wall sounds like when it’s burning, what it sounds like when ceilings are collapsing, they get the full effect in a house,” NTC Director of Fire and EMS Training Doug Jennings told NewsChannel 7.

It only took five hours and seven different exercises for the house to burn to the ground. Now that it’s gone, the property will be given back to the family who donated the house to the college.