Students in Western Technical College’s Associate of Science-Liberal Arts program can now earn as many as 59 credits that will transfer to UW-La Crosse’s College of Business Administration. Those who complete the pathway will enroll in UW-L with near-junior status in a range of majors: accountancy, economics, information systems, management, marketing and multiple finance disciplines.

Starting in Fall 2019, Northcentral Technical College will be offering a cosmetology program. Through the year-long course, students will learn hair-cutting skills, styling, chemical services, such as perms and relaxing and nail services. Another key aspect of the training is learning how to recognized signs of abuse in potential clients.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is making ‘re-entry programs for inmates’ a priority over the next two years. In the budget he signed last week, he increased the amount of money for these efforts by almost $1 million.

One of these inmate re-entry programs is being offered at Northwest Wisconsin Technical College. Eleven inmates from Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center, a minimum-security facility, are working toward a certificate in industrial maintenance. The 14-credit program is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

A grant from the U.S. Department of State will boost a growing study abroad program at Chippewa Valley Technical College. CVTC applied for a $35,000 State Department grant to support an Experiencing Postsecondary Learning Overseas through Relevant Education (EXPLORE) program with the goal to expand CVTC's capacity to offer study abroad opportunities.

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) last week recognized 16 technical college students as “WTCS Ambassadors” at a ceremony in Wisconsin Dells. After a full day of leadership training, the students will champion opportunities in technical education at events and in videos and publications throughout the coming year. Baird, an employee-owned, international financial services firm headquartered in Milwaukee, has sponsored the WTCS State Ambassador program since its inception more than a decade ago.

Mishicot and Kaukauna High Schools were among eight nationally that were recognized last week for programs, delivered in partnership with Wisconsin technical colleges, that “represent the best of Career & Technical Education (CTE).” The schools were honored in front of state and national leaders with Excellence in Action awards at the 2019 Advance CTE Spring Meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland.

For the first time ever in Northeast Wisconsin, students who complete a two-year Construction Management Technology degree at Fox Valley Technology (FVTC) now have somewhere local to complete their bachelor's degree. After more than a year of discussions, Concordia University and FVTC signed an agreement for a two plus two program. Students who successfully complete the Construction Management Technology program at FVTC can then apply for the same program at Concordia.

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and Lakeland University have announced a transfer partnership. The WITC To Lakeland guaranteed transfer program will allow students to complete an associate degree at WITC and then transfer seamlessly to Lakeland as a college junior. WITC graduates who meet all the requirements are guaranteed direct admission to Lakeland, where they can complete a related bachelor’s degree.

Michael Kopper and Michele Whitfield donated $2.85 million to the Gateway Technical College Foundation to fund scholarships for students in engineering and manufacturing-related programs as well as benefit students in the college’s Promise program. A total of $1.5 million was contributed to establish the Kopper Family Fund while $1.35 million will go to Gateway’s Promise program.