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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 1/23/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
December 19, 2006 Editorial: Credit agreement with tech schools, four-year colleges Grade A move
A simple educational agreement.
Big potential for the region's economy.
Last week, a coalition of regional chancellors and school presidents announced they had shaken hands on a pretty visionary deal.
It allows students at Fox Valley, Lakeshore, Moraine Park and Northeast Wisconsin technical colleges to amass a 32-credit "core" of general education experience that satisfies basic requirements at UWO and UWGB.
The idea hinges on educational access and portability.
In other words: Go to "tech school," build a solid educational base, feel free to seamlessly flow that marketable knowledge and skill into UWO or UWGB bachelors degree and, ultimately, attain a bachelor's degree.
The agreement earns an A-plus.
It's no shocker that New North — an 18-county quality-of-life and economic development partnership trying to energize northeastern Wisconsin — is hot on this handshake.
The agreement hopes to inspire and produce a new army of Wisconsin graduates. They'll feature 21st Century techno-talent and four-year nursing, liberal arts, teaching, communications or business polish.
It will also give students of different backgrounds and income status a lithe education as this region continues to overcome the quality-of-life-sapping erosion of manufacturing jobs.
The opportunity provides a new educational path for existing students looking for a career leap. It does the same for people seeking escape from the gravity of poverty.
Also, don't lose sight of an important synergy that this agreement finally brings to Wisconsin's table.
For too long, there has been a counterproductive rift between four-year college and Wisconsin's technical schools.
In the 21st Century, the disconnection makes no sense. The two tracts need each other.
The new agreement has an "out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new" attitudinal course correction for the good of our economy.
It's not just about equipping students to thrive in a tumultuous work world.
It's also about fine-tuning the New North to show the Midwest, U.S. and globe that we feature a smart, homegrown and adaptable workforce here in northeastern Wisconsin. The fewer barriers between technical school and four-year college, the better.
In many parts of the U.S., that's just fancy talk. The new agreement is real substance.
Now, the goal must be to spread the word.
There isn't a megaphone, billboard or Web site big enough to herald an evolving workforces like ours.
Final Thought: A new agreement allowing regional technical college students to amass and apply general credits at UWO and UWGB can help develop a legion of local, adaptable renaissance workers.
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