NWTC strengthens bonds between educators, students and business

MARINETTE – Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) recently held a roundtable discussion at their Marinette campus centered on strengthening workforce pathways and presenting higher education opportunities for students.

Explaining the importance of bringing together educators, students and business and industry partners, NWTC Marinette Campus Dean Cindy Bailey said “It’s a really good opportunity to bring these groups together. We really make sure that there is some definite connection between K-12, between higher education and between business and industry partners.”

Educators from a variety of school districts attended the event, including Marinette, Menominee, Peshtigo, Crivitz, Oconto, Lena and Stephenson. Not only did they get a chance to visit the Marinette campus, but some were also able to go on an industry tour afterwards.

Tours with industry partners included ChemDesign, a chemical manufacturing company in Marinette, R. W. Fernstrum, an engineering and manufacturing business for the marine industry in Menominee, Mich., as well as iBeAuthentic, a Menominee Mich.-based digital communication company for beauty distributors and brands.

Dean Cindy Bailey added that it was “really great to have outside partners come in” and added that roundtable discussions and events like this not only start a conversation between entities, but reinforces the skillsets that employers are seeking from graduating high school students. This helps students to not only achieve a livable wage, but a “family sustaining wage,” as the Dean explained.

By having educators attend roundtable discussions and visit local industry partners, they are able to pass along important information to their high school students and aid in setting up chances for job shadowing, internships and youth apprenticeships.

For students seeking additional education prior to entering the workforce, the roundtable discussion also presented on educational opportunities happening at the Marinette campus. This includes not only certificates and technical diplomas in business, engineering, health sciences and other skill and trade based careers, but their new Associate of Arts Transfer and Associate of Science Transfer Associate Degrees.

With the transfer associate degrees students can “look no further than [their] backyard for a really good opportunity in higher education,” as Dean Cindy Bailey explained, by beginning their education at NWTC Marinette and then transferring to a four-year institution. Not only will this prepare students to earn a bachelor’s degree, but they will also “save a lot of money through [lower] tuition and living at home.”

Dean Cindy Bailey shared that the college hopes to host another roundtable event like this in the spring, but in the meantime students can reach out to NWTC Marinette to sit in on a class with current college students or shadow a program. She encouraged interested students and parents to schedule a visit, “We love to open our doors for people who want to stop by,” while adding that “A tech college is very different than what it was 20 or 30 years ago.”

More information about programs and opportunities available at NWTC Marinette can be found at www.nwtc.edu/about-nwtc/nwtc-locations/marinette.