The Technical College Effect

has nearly 370,000 students the largest higher education system in Wisconsin.

Wisconsins Technical College System

Nearly 9 of every 10 graduates live and work in Wisconsin.

www.TechnicalCollegeEffect.org

Wisconsins technical colleges are critical to our state and its economic development
With a rapidly changing economic landscape, Wisconsins technical colleges have never been more important to our states workforce. The Wisconsin Technical College System works to do more than meet the current job needs of our communities and our students. We assess current trends to develop our students skills for the jobs of tomorrow. The Wisconsin Technical College System accomplishes this goal by being efficient and responsive. We respond to the reality of our technology economy and the aspirations of our students to achieve. Employers across the state describe us as being responsive, innovative, relevant and inspiring.

We look to [our technical college] They are tremendous partners and tremendous educators. -Duane Erwin, President & CEO, Aspirus

Wisconsins technical colleges develop close partnerships with business and industry, whose leaders help guide the curriculum workforce needs.

Responsive
Colleges quickly respond to changing market needs, constantly cutting, modifying or starting programs driven by local and regional needs. The technical colleges are the safety net for adult learners who are underemployed or become unemployed. We create or adapt programs for the needs of employers, which are often unique to each college district and customize education for current workers (99,000 served in 2011-12).

They seem to be very, very interested in providing what we need. - Ben Bonnell, Manager of Process Improvement, Wausau Paper

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Inspiring
The essential mission of the technical colleges includes the idea that everyone can, through education, have a chance to contribute meaningfully to our state. Students drawn to the technical colleges are driven to achieve success, regardless of circumstances. Whether its the traditional students out of high school, the large numbers of returning adult students or military veterans looking to enhance or learn new skills; the technical colleges provide the counseling, support and mentoring for anyone willing to better themselves and become more productive members of our society. The true benefit that we see as an employer with the Youth Apprenticeship Program is that we are going to get a great employee. -Nick Rolf, Human Resources Manager, HUI

The technical colleges really focus on specific skills that people need to be successful in whatever career path they choose. -Julie Connelly, Department Supervisor, Logistics Health, Inc.

Wisconsin will need to replace one-third of its workforce by 2018. The majority of these jobs require technical education. (Georgetown University Report on Education and the Workforce, 2010).

Relevant
Our advisory committees are comprised of business and industry leaders who help determine which educational programs and competencies are required to satisfy their workforce needs. This is a major influencer for a strong graduate placement rate of nearly 90 percent (3 of every 4 in their area of study) in an unstable economy. The technical colleges provide characteristics, education, and training allowing manufacturing companies in Wisconsin to remain competitive. -Mike Vander Zanden, President & CEO, Ameriquip Corporation

The graduates are eager to work. Theyre looking for opportunities, careers. And those are the people we are looking for. -Charles Strabel, Parts Manager, Frontier Ag and Turf

You will not find another educational system that responds to changes in technology and local workforce needs like Wisconsins technical colleges.

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Wisconsins technical colleges respond to technology and local workforce needs

Innovative
Given the pace of technological advancement in the workplace, Wisconsins technical colleges use the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment to ensure graduates are job-ready on day one. We also lead the way in the use of alternative-delivery instruction, such as night, weekend and online classes and assess and award credit for prior learning in the classroom, the workplace and from life experiences. Technology changes so fast that you have to keep up with it. So we interact with [our technical college] to cater the curriculum to what we as a business needs for the skill set. -Jeff Steinweber, Vice President, Enterprise Architecture and Design, Noel Group The technical colleges have invested not only in curriculum but in the actual machines that they are teaching on, so they are giving real life applications, real life training, and then that enables the employees to start with us very quickly and move into a career progression. -Eric Reisner, Vice President & General Manager, Global Products Services, Rexnord

16 Colleges
Blackhawk Technical College | www.blackhawk.edu Chippewa Valley Technical College | www.cvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical Colllege | www.fvtc.edu

Nearly three out of four graduates have jobs in their fields within six months of graduation (WTCS Graduate Follow up Report, 2012).

Gateway Technical College | www.gateway.edu Lakeshore Technical College | www.gotoltc.edu Madison College | www.madisoncollege.edu Mid-State Technical College | www.mstc.edu

[Our technical college] meets the needs of students, employers and the community alike. -Mike Weller, President, ITW Welding North American

Milwaukee Area Technical College | www.matc.edu Moraine Park Technical College | www.morainepark.edu Nicolet College | www.nicoletcollege.edu Northcentral Technical College | www.ntc.edu Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | www.nwtc.edu Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | www.swtc.edu

Nearly 9 in 10 graduates live and work in Wisconsin. Since they contribute to the states economy, we are overwhelmingly investing in our own residents (WTCS Graduate Follow Up Report, 2012).

Waukesha County Technical College | www.wctc.edu Western Technical College | www.westerntc.edu Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College | www.witc.edu

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2012 Wisconsin Technical College System