COLLEGE INITIATIVES
Employee Involvement Groups help NWTC create a more inclusive workforce
Created in 2019 , Employee Involvement Groups ( EIGs ) are voluntary , self-initiated , and employee-led groups that focus on a common human characteristic ( such as race , ethnicity , generation , ability , gender , etc .). All employees who want to support the goals of an EIG are welcome to join . The groups aid in NWTC ’ s efforts to diversify the workforce by supporting recruitment and retention goals tied to employee and student success .
The active EIGs include the Hmong Professionals , Intertribal , Pride and Allies Network , and Women of Color Network . These groups give employees a way to develop a sense of community and collaboration . In addition , EIGs are aligned with the College ’ s mission to provide training and lifelong learning opportunities for all individuals and businesses leading to the development of a skilled and culturally inclusive workforce .
First cohort of ceramics students graduate
The NWTC Artisan and Business Center is unique in the Wisconsin Technical College System as a stand-alone location for student and community education in the arts . The center offers both credit and noncredit courses in various mediums , including clay .
In spring , the first cohort of students graduated from the for-credit ceramics program . The program , the 12-credit Clay certificate , consists of three levels of instruction – introductory , intermediate , and advanced – and finishes with a capstone focused on starting a studio .
Kelly Bresnahan , a part-time woodturning instructor and one of the four clay program graduates , said he “ enjoyed learning a new medium that was so different from wood ... one where you usually add material instead of remove .” Since graduating , he has built a clay studio at home , where he loves experimenting with different chemicals and glazes to get unique finishes for his pieces .
Open to the public , the Artisan and Business Center offers classes in art metals , textiles , glass , painting , wood , and other mediums . In addition , open studio hours are available for community members to work on their craft .
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTER , INCLUDING OPEN STUDIO FEES , CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS nwtc . edu / ArtisanCenter
12 FRIENDS OF NWTC FALL 2021