FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Spring 2020 called us to thrive amid uncertainty
This spring has been unlike any other, calling for historic levels of flexibility and determination.
In two weeks, we transitioned from hands-on classes, face-to-face services and busy hallways
to online projects, simulations and video chats. Amid these significant changes, NWTC has
continued serving our students remotely and we remain committed to their success. I am
so proud of our many graduates who have been declared essential workers, and I know
the students who persevere today will provide critical skills to support our businesses and
communities. Best of all, because they earn their credentials, NWTC graduates will be better
able to weather the next storm, and the next.
To ensure that no obstacle will stop a student from graduating, the college created online
and drive-up solutions in non-academic services such as a food pantry to support students
who are hungry, funding to overcome the inevitable unplanned expense or emergency,
personal counseling, and housing assistance for those who have trouble finding a place to live.
This complements supports like academic coaching and early alerts that connect students
with the assistance they need, when they need it, from anywhere.
Spring has also been a time of transforming our courses to eight-week sessions. With the
8-Week Advantage, students can focus on a few subjects at a time and still graduate quickly.
Students at NWTC and throughout the United States have taken courses in this format,
and data shows that it helps more students succeed in their classes and graduate. We look
forward to having nearly all programs in the new format in 2021.
This spring’s Kresge Foundation grant, awarded to NWTC to connect people with low
incomes to critical services and academic pathways, augments the millions of dollars in
competitive grants and national accolades the college continues to receive. NWTC’s data-
driven programming, talented students and expert faculty lead the nation every year. NWTC
has been honored by the Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, American Association of
Community Colleges, National Science Foundation and beyond for excellence, effectiveness
and accountability.
Yet, it is the financial support of Northeast Wisconsin individuals and companies that will help
our students heroically overcome the terrific barriers suddenly in front of them. And the
need has never been greater. Many of our students have lost part-time jobs that were critical
to their financial stability. Families or spouses that were supporting their loved ones find
themselves financially suffering from less to no employment. Food, housing, transportation,
and health care are everyday worries, leaving little time, energy, or money for education.
NWTC is doing everything it can to assist these students in meeting their basic needs so that
they can continue their education. With you, we can help our students soar.
More than 24,000 people per year work with NWTC to earn degrees and diplomas, retrain for
new careers, begin a small business, train through their employer and improve their quality of
life. This issue of Friends features only a few of the transformations we’ve seen. I hope you
enjoy them as much as we do.
Thank you,
Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn
President, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College