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For immediate release: October 23, 2009 |
Wisconsin's Tech Colleges receive funds to expand innovative programsMADISON – Three of Wisconsin’s technical colleges will be receiving more than $1.3 million in federal grants to help working adults and displaced workers. The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that Gateway Technical College, Madison Area Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College are receiving the money to build skills in high-growth occupations. Wisconsin is receiving nearly 12 percent of the $11 million in special competition grants, compared with the two percent of federal funding typically distributed to the state. "With only 29 grants awarded nationwide, this was a very competitive application process," said Wisconsin Technical College System President Dan Clancy. "The success of our colleges in securing these funds exemplifies the strength of our education and training programs through the colleges’ commitment to serving Wisconsin’s workers." The grants support reforms, innovations, and significant achievements in postsecondary education that may serve as national models. Despite unprecedented enrollment increases of as much as 15 percent, the colleges have responded with a number of innovative strategies to serve students, including adding course sections, offering flexible course delivery, relaxing enrollment limits and deadlines, and waiving application and other fees for dislocated workers. Gateway Technical College, which serves the Kenosha and Racine areas, will receive $497,938 to deliver an accelerated, "boot camp" model in health care for dislocated or low-skilled workers who are not prepared to pursue traditional postsecondary education. Students can then begin work or continue training in other health programs. Project partners include the Racine County Workforce Development Center and regional health care employers. Madison Area Technical College will receive $453,509 to speed development of its improved linkage between college programming and other programs or services for dislocated workers and adult students. Project partners include the South Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the Center for Adult and Experiential Learning, and national experts in the effective delivery of adult education. Milwaukee Area Technical College will receive $350,001 to create intensive, contextualized learning opportunities for adult students by integrating math and language instruction with hands-on, occupational training. The training program will prepare students for immediate employment or additional training and career development. Project partners include the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and the Milwaukee HIRE Center. The Wisconsin Technical College System has 16 technical college districts throughout Wisconsin, which offer more than 300 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized training and technical assistance to Wisconsin’s business and industry community. Approximately 400,000 Wisconsinites enroll in technical colleges each year. More than half of all adults in Wisconsin have accessed the technical colleges for education and training. Find more about educational programs at www.witechcolleges.org. |