Tech colleges advocate for quick action on stimulus package

MADISON – Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) President Dan Clancy is urging members of the state’s Congressional delegation to take swift action to complete the federal stimulus package enabling states to move forward to address the impending workforce crisis. In a letter sent on behalf of the State Board, Clancy also urged members of Congress, "…To help ensure stimulus funding includes allocations that recognize the specific role of the WTCS." Clancy said the technical colleges are experiencing dramatic enrollment increases as a result of the recession and it’s imperative that specific funding is set aside to meet the needs of an unusually high number of dislocated workers.

"We believe it is important that you recognize how, in addition to funding allocated for Education for the 21st Century, the WTCS can make quick, productive use of stimulus funding provided under a number of other areas included in the U.S. House version of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act," the letter states.

"Government investments in the American workforce have never been this important, at least not in recent history," said Brent Smith, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. "The technical colleges are in the best position to provide the kind of demand-driven education needed to get under-employed and unemployed individuals back to work," Smith added.

The WTCS 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. More than half of all adults in Wisconsin have accessed the technical colleges for education and training in the last decade. Details on career programs can be found at www.witechcolleges.org