GOOD NEWS + AWARDS
Eight-week course strategy gains national recognition
In January , NWTC achieved national acclaim for an innovative strategy aimed at improving student success . The Bellwether College Consortium selected NWTC ’ s new “ 8-Week Advantage ” course model as a Top 10 Bellwether Award Finalist in the category of Planning , Governance , and Finance .
With 8-Week Advantage , NWTC is transitioning its course format from 15-week semesters to eight-week sessions . What sets the transition apart : NWTC is going beyond simply compressing classes . The College is intentionally using the redesign to build in new best practices college-wide , improving instruction and services for students .
“ Being chosen as a finalist is a high honor ,” said Dr . Jeff Rafn , NWTC president . “ The nationally recognized Bellwether Award focuses on cutting-edge , trendsetting programs worthy of replication . This recognition reflects the outstanding work of the 8-Week Advantage Steering Committee , faculty , and staff . This transformative work required every one of us to change our thinking , processes , and curriculum .”
By fall of 2021 , nearly all NWTC academic programs will be offered in eight-week sessions . For more information , go to nwtc . edu / 8Week .
Eight-week classes have helped busy students like Brandon Lee balance college with their busy lives .
“ I just returned to school this past semester . Being in the eight-week program definitely made things a little easier .”
NWTC garners highest honor from Achieving the Dream
Nearly 11 years ago , NWTC became the first Wisconsin college to join Achieving the Dream , then a small , select group of community colleges from around the country committed to improving student success . Now , ATD is a national network of over 300 community colleges , and NWTC has received the network ’ s highest honor – the Leah Meyer Austin Award .
“ The Leah Meyer Austin Award recognizes bold , transformational changes that put equity , access , and student success at the center of their institutional priorities ,” said Dr . Karen A . Stout , ATD president and CEO . “ Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has demonstrated a tenacious commitment to making the college ‘ student-ready ,’ a cultural shift that has shown clear , positive impacts in the success of its students .”
Since joining the ATD Network , NWTC has substantively increased student persistence , credit completion , and the proportion of students who successfully transfer and earn a baccalaureate degree . NWTC has also narrowed equity gaps for students receiving Pell grants , parttime students , and student parents .
“ This recognition validates the importance of the work we have accomplished over the last ten years ,” said Dr . Jeff Rafn , NWTC president . “ ATD published an eight-page case study of NWTC . As a result , NWTC will continue to have a national impact on the ability of community colleges to increase student success and reduce equity gaps . That means our work will result in more students around the country succeeding and soaring higher !”
4 FRIENDS OF NWTC | SPRING 2021