Southwest Tech addresses school board

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A representative from Southwest Technical College spoke to the Prairie du Chien Board of Education during a stacked December 9 meeting.

Cynde Larsen, SWTC chief academic officer and executive dean, offered a glimpse at the college’s future plans for their present and future students. She also gave the board an apology.

“Southwest Tech is in the middle of a changeover in our enterprise computer system, and it has been a rocky changeover,” said Larsen.

Larsen echoed many of the same points that SWTC President Jason Wood made to the Wauzeka-Steuben Board of Education this past October: students had difficulties registering for dual-credit courses last year and a combination of retiring staff and new technology caused a rough transition for the college and its students.

Larsen also outlined improvements SWTC is implementing to improve the education their students receive.

All students who attend the school will now have an individualized plan, an academic support system and a financial plan to help them during their time in college and in their post-education career path.

“We believe that when students are financially adroit, good with their money and secure, they’re more likely to complete their program and secure success after their program,” said Larsen.

SWTC is adding clinical opportunities to all of their majors and is working to increase their connection with community employers.

Larsen also said the college is working on making guidance for students in the dual-credit program more effective. “We don’t want students doing random acts of dual credit. We want them taking the courses that will matriculate into the programs they want.”

At the Wauzeka-Steuben meeting, Wood also announced that the school is planning to set aside $300,000 for school districts in its service area, including Wauzeka-Steuben, to help handle district costs associated with dual-credit programming.

“We want to recognize the school districts,” he said. “We enjoy a high percentage of students coming from our service area. Around 20 percent of our graduating class in the five counties comes to Southwest Tech, which is double the state average, and we’re really grateful for that.”

SWTC serves 30 school districts, which means each school, regardless of size, will have the opportunity to receive $10,000. Wood suggested the money could be disbursed in two rounds, with the first half being awarded to schools as early as January 2025.

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