Moraine Park Technical College hosted a Community Forum on Sept. 15 regarding the College’s referendum in the November election. The forum took place both virtually and on the College’s Fond du Lac campus.

The Moraine Park Technical College District Board passed a resolution in June stating an intent to borrow $55 million to enhance campus learning spaces to meet future student and regional workforce needs through four projects across Moraine Park campuses and communities. In August, the Board approved the final ballot language, allowing the College to move forward with a referendum in the November election. Under state law, technical colleges must hold referendums before completing capital projects with a cost of more than $1.5 million.

Moraine Park’s Community Forums are an opportunity for the public to ask questions and learn more about the referendum. Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald presented about the referendum, and the forum ended with a Q&A. 

“Education is the key to economic growth in any community,” President Baerwald said. “Workforce growth is what will change our community. As a tech college, we are the change agents–a referendum is a way to make change and growth happen at a time when technology and automation is influencing industry so rapidly.”

The College will soon host Community Forums on the Beaver Dam and West Bend campuses. See the dates below.

• West Bend – September 26, 11:45 – 12:45 p.m.; 2151 N. Main St.
• Beaver Dam – October 3, 9 – 10 a.m.; 700 Gould St.

Learn more about the referendum at morainepark.edu/future.

Moraine Park introduced a new Financial and Insurance Services Specialist associate degree program this fall 2022 semester. The program is a unique opportunity at Moraine Park that focuses on both finance and insurance.

“This program is a great starting point for students who want to explore careers in the fields of insurance or finance. The program is designed to help learners continue their education beyond their Associate degree,” Deb Clarke, Moraine Park associate dean of business and IT, said. 

The program prepares students to obtain industry-recognized credentials required within the financial and insurance industries, including the Series 6, Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), and insurance. Students will also gain an understanding of regulatory standards related to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), lending practices, client relationship management, marketing and brand management with cutting-edge technology, and insurance lines.

“We wanted to provide our graduates a broad knowledge base to efficiently and collaboratively work across specialized teams,” Bobbi Fields, Moraine Park dean of applied technology and trades, said. “Locally, there are numerous jobs available across our entire district, with anticipated growth of at least 9 percent over the next 10 years, but this is only a snapshot of opportunities available. Our graduates may also wish to pursue the many remote and virtual options available to graduates of the program.”

Graduates of this program will be prepared to help clients navigate the complex and evolving worlds of finance and insurance. They may find employment as a certified financial planner, customer service representative, financial advisor, insurance sales agent, loan processor, personal banker, and more.

Learn more about the program at morainepark.edu/academics/programs/financial-and-insurance-services-specialist/.

Moraine Park Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay signed an articulation agreement allowing students pursuing Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) liberal arts degrees to seamlessly transfer from Moraine Park and continue their education at UW-Green Bay with confirmed junior status. 

The agreement was signed by Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald and UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus. 

“We are thrilled at UW-Green Bay to be working with our colleagues at Moraine Park Technical College to make education more accessible for the people in our region,” UW-Green Bay Chancellor Alexander said. “Our goal is to provide an education that works best for the students we serve, and this agreement will help us support more students in achieving their educational goals.” 

Moraine Park began offering AA and AS liberal arts degrees this fall semester. 

The agreement between Moraine Park and UW Green-Bay is Moraine Park’s third AA and AS degree partnership. Earlier this year, the College signed articulation agreements with Lakeland University and UW-Oshkosh. College leaders will continue to add partnerships with other local universities, giving district students more options and control when it comes to their education and making the future transfer process easier and more streamlined. 

“By starting an education at Moraine Park, students can get their general studies completed for at a lesser cost, enjoy smaller class sizes, benefit from extensive student support, and have guaranteed transfer credits to one of our partner schools,” Dr. Fred Rice, associate vice president of academics at Moraine Park, said. “The College currently offers a wide variety of Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degrees, Technical Diplomas, and career pathway certificate opportunities. Adding the liberal arts degree programs will provide a more robust slate of offerings to the Moraine Park student community. Although these programs do have a wide and growing number of pre-major options, they are also excellent opportunities for those students who are unclear as to an occupational path yet still want to earn an associate degree that is transferable to a 4-year university.” 

In July, Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac Campus had the distinct pleasure of hosting the Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association (WATDA) Summer Training Institute.

The purpose of the Summer Training Institute is to bring together automotive instructors and industry representatives to explore and train on new concepts that can be brought back to the instructors’ individual classrooms. This event began over 20 years ago, and was started by our own Jim Eden (Moraine Park VP of Teaching and Learning) and Carl Hader (Retired Germantown High School Auto Instructor/ WATDA Representative),

Summer Training Institute, which hosted over 40 high-school automotive instructors from throughout the state, began on July 18 with a guided tour of Wells Vehicle Electronics. The attendees were able to view the plant and assembly areas, as well as the technical services garage. The day ended with a reception and welcome event at the Crystal Ballroom, located in the Retlaw Hotel.

The following days, attendees gathered on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus to attend training and educational sessions. Representatives from the parts and automobile industry, as well as our own automotive instructors Jim Daniels and Francesco Corrente, led the sessions. Topics covered included:

1. Battery Technology & Charging Systems
2. Light Diesel
3. Evolution of ADAS Repair Technology (Levels 1-6)
4. Evaporative System Concepts and Diagnosis
5. Direct Fuel Injection
6. Adding Auto Body Programs to Curriculum

Breakfast and lunch were supplied by the wonderful Eden Catering in our cafeteria. Those meals allowed our attendees to mingle and further share ideas and new concepts learned. Both lunch sessions included speeches from WATDA representatives Dan Klecker (State Education Director) and Brent Kindred (Vice President). There was also a roundtable panel discussion about the future of the automotive industry that culminated in an enlightening and thought-provoking Q and A session with everyone in attendance.

Summer Training Institute was a great opportunity for industry members to get together, network, and share ideas. MPTC hosted this event for the first time in nine years, and we look forward to hosting it in the future. Talking with the attendees, almost all were delighted with both the event coordination and the detailed level of instruction that was given during the breakout sessions.

This truly was an event that was worth the effort and time that went into planning it. Moraine Park would like to thank everyone who attended, as well as the trades and facilities staff that spent time planning and executing the WATDA Summer Training Institute. Excellent work, everyone!

Written by Corey Koch

There’s nothing better than busy hallways and full classrooms on Moraine Park campuses! Last week was full of excitement as we welcomed both new and returning students to the fall 2022 semester.

Some highlights included Casino Day, ‘Get the Scoop’ Information Fairs, comedy lunch hours, welcome breakfasts, bumper cars, and so much more. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester will bring!

Governor Tony Evers hosted a roundtable discussion on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus today, Aug. 24. He was joined by local leaders and stakeholders to discuss the high costs of insulin and the barriers surrounding accessible and affordable childcare and caregiving.

“Wisconsin families have been through a lot over the past few years, and we know that while our state and economy continue to recover, folks are still worried about rising costs and making ends meet,” Gov. Evers said. “My plan to use our state’s latest projected surplus builds on our work to cut taxes for working families by providing more than $600 million in tax relief while capping the copay cost of insulin, lowering prices at the pump, and helping defray the cost of childcare and caregiving to help reduce barriers to entering our workforce.”

Organizations in attendance included Lily Pad Learning Center, the Fond du Lac Senior Center, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Fond du Lac County, Family Connections Inc., Mercury Marine, SSM Health, and a student from Fox Valley Technical College.

“The topics of discussion at the Community Roundtable with Governor Evers are issues that deserve diverse input and thoughtful consideration,” Bobbi Fields, dean of applied technology and trades at Moraine Park, said. “Our communities express concerns associated with childcare, elder care, and high costs of insulin. Our Moraine Park community, including students, staff, and graduates are equally affected. The college is committed to exploring options and initiatives we can lead and support in an effort to help meet the underserved needs of the communities we serve.”

Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald; Dr. Fred Rice, associate Vice President of academics; and Bobbi Fields, dean of applied technology and trades, participated in the discussion.

“Moraine Park continues to work with area partners to find ways to help meet the needs of our communities,” Rice said. “Graduates of the Early Childhood Education program are well trained and prepared for jobs as child care teachers, assistant teachers, family care providers, infant or toddler caregivers, in-home caregivers, and early childhood special needs assistants. Providing care for our younger population has never been more in demand. The same is true for those who provide care for older adults and the elderly. The Nursing and Nursing Assistant programs are especially in high demand. Graduates work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, at-home care, and other settings to provide vital care to those in need in our communities. In these and many other program areas, students can start taking classes even while in high school to accelerate along their academic and career paths.”

View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA4kGq.

Moraine Park Technical College and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh signed an articulation agreement today allowing students pursuing Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) liberal arts degrees to seamlessly transfer from Moraine Park and continue their education at UW Oshkosh with confirmed junior status.

The agreement was signed by Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald and UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andy Leavitt today, Aug. 12 at Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus.

“This agreement represents only the latest of many collaborations between UW Oshkosh and MPTC,” UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andy Leavitt said. “It is another example of our long-term and ongoing partnership with the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance (NEW ERA) and MPTC. In effect, it strengthens our relationship with MPTC and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to enhancing opportunities and access to higher education for citizens of northeast Wisconsin and, specifically, those in Fond du Lac.”

Moraine Park will offer AA and AS liberal arts degrees beginning this fall.

“The agreement demystifies transfer and creates a smoother transition from the technical college to the university by guaranteeing that not only certain courses transfer but also that they count toward the university’s general education requirements,” Leavitt said. “This helps students complete their bachelor’s degree in a timely manner. And it, ultimately, helps us in our critical efforts to raise the level of educational attainment in the region.”

The agreement between Moraine Park and UW Oshkosh is Moraine Park’s second AA and AS degree partnership. Earlier this year, the College signed an articulation agreement with Lakeland University. College leaders will continue to add partnerships with other local universities, giving district students more options and control when it comes to their education and making the future transfer process easier and more streamlined.

“By starting an education at Moraine Park, students can get their general studies completed for a fraction of the cost, with smaller class sizes, extensive student support, and guaranteed transfer credits to one of our partner schools,” Dr. Fred Rice, associate vice president of academics at Moraine Park, said. “The College currently offers a wide variety of Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degrees, Technical Diplomas, and career pathway certificate opportunities. Adding the liberal arts degree programs will provide a more robust slate of offerings to Moraine Park students and will also help guide those who are unclear as to their occupational path to achieve an associate degree that is transferable to a 4-year university.”

Individuals interested in exploring this opportunity at Moraine Park are encouraged to start conversations early by connecting with admissions@morainepark.edu.

View more photos of the event at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA2KP3.

It’s been an exciting week on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus! Our Tech Knowledge College campers had a blast flying drones, giving facials, getting CPR certified, making chocolate pasta, fighting lego robots, fighting court cases, and so much more. 

With 58 kids in attendance, this hands-on event gave campers an interactive look at the skills and careers needed today and in the future. Each camper attended a morning session and an afternoon session. The sessions for 2022 were Lego Sumo Robots, The Business of Drones, Foods from Around the World, Courtroom in Session, All About Healthcare, Salon Techniques, Rescue 911, and Law Enforcement.

On the last day, the campers were celebrated with a pizza party and an open house to showcase their work.

“My favorite park of TKC was doing CPR on the baby dolls,” Liam Garcia-Chavez, a Rescue 911 and Lego Sumo Robots student, said. “It was also fun to fight the robots.”

Thank you to all of our amazing TKC instructors!

Foods from Around the World – James Simmers

Salon Techniques – Sherri Theisen and Jennifer Wirkus

Lego Sumo Robots – Henry Hathaway

Law and Order – Jeffrey Gruss and Joan Barfield

The Business of Drones – Jeffrey Stueber

All About Health Care – Erika Herriges

Courtroom in Session – Carrie Kutz

Rescue 911 – Drew Novak

Take a look at all the fun we had this week!

View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA2oVo.

Last week, six inmates from John C. Burke Correctional Center (JBCC) earned welding certificates from Moraine Park Technical College. They were celebrated in a completion ceremony on Thursday at Moraine Park’s Beaver Dam campus.

The six individuals completed Moraine Park’s 12-credit welding certificate program over a span of 12 weeks. They are now eligible for work release from JBCC and can begin working in the community immediately.

JoAnn Hall, Moraine Park’s dean of economic and workforce development, welcomed the graduates and families in attendance. Paul Jensen, a Moraine Park Economic Workforce Development welding instructor, handed out the certificates with Kevin Carr, Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary, and James Barrett, Moraine Park’s vice president of student services.

Moraine Park has partnered with the Department of Corrections for almost 50 years.