Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/468967
16 | I NSIGH T • M a r c h 2 0 15 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m FACE TIME I know that four years is an eternity in a business cycle, but what we will find in the next couple of years is that we are producing a steady stream of highly qualified technical students and technical graduates that will clearly benefit manufacturing in this region. semester. We need to keep it at 48 months. It's an economic disadvantage for a student to be in school longer than four years because not only are you paying tuition, fees, room and board, but you are also losing income because you are not working — it's a double-tap on student and family finances. At the same time, we need to support the students so they make the right decisions in order to graduate. Some of the things I would love to see employed would be rigorous career counseling very early in a student's career. We also need to make students aware of the consequences of the financial decisions they make so they understand that when they take out a student loan, they need to, first and foremost, graduate in the shortest amount of time possible, pay that back and be able to manage a responsible amount. Moving forward, where we need to go is to be sure this institution is producing the innovative leaders necessary for the region to continue growing. Our engineering technology program is a perfect example of that. A collaborative program with our partners in NEWERA, the UW and technical colleges are producing engineering technologists at the two- year level — many go directly into the workforce — while others transfer directly to us and get a four- year degree. I know that four years is an eternity in a business cycle, but what we will find in the next couple of years is that we are producing a steady stream of highly qualified technical students and technical graduates that will clearly benefit manufacturing in this region. We also have a fine college of business here at UW-Oshkosh, and all of our graduates are required to have an internship or a co-op experience, so we have a very high placement rate. We are providing a highly skilled workforce for the region, but it is also the expertise we possess on campus. at is one of the real powers of an institution of higher education within your community and region is that it brings together people who study those particular disciplines and can bring great expertise to bear for highly localized issues and opportunities. at's really an area I want to focus on. At this point, we need to reflect on what we are offering and make sure all of our offerings are the right size and the right fit for the institution. We want to make sure they are, in fact, helpful to the region. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Contact NWTC today to learn more Skills You Need for Results You Deserve! www.nwtc.edu/CE | 920-498-6876 or email christine.schillinger@nwtc.edu Leadership and Management Health and Wellness Trades and Technical Service Industry Human Resources Foreign Language And so many more! Enhance or advance your career with hundreds of courses. Classes available online and in-person.