College plans to expand automotive, diesel programs

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Dec 29, 2004 | by Grooms, Autumn

A five-year plan should begin this summer to improve programs, facilities and course offerings at Western Wisconsin Technical College.

The plan calls for relocating and expanding the automotive and diesel programs to the industrial park, adding to programs at the business and industry service center, and increasing what's available on evenings and weekends and in the associate of arts program, said WWTC President Lee Rasch.

Rasch said the plan also gives WWTC more flexibility as it enters the state budget year, so the situation shouldn't be as difficult as two years ago. The college is not anticipating any layoffs, he said.

"Rather than focusing on what could go wrong, we are focusing on things we can do for ourselves and for the community," he said of the five-year plan.

Rasch said the automotive program will join the diesel program at an expanded site near the existing diesel shop on Larson Street. The area will be landscaped and will be considered another campus, he said.

A warehouse next to the diesel shop has been purchased and will be remodeled to house lab space and additional classrooms, so some general courses can be held there as well, Rasch said. Plans are to begin the remodeling this summer and have the building completed by fall 2006.

Both the automotive and the diesel programs are popular at WWTC, Rasch said. The relocation and expansion Should eliminate waiting lists for those programs, he said.

The business and industry service center - formerly the economic development division - will move into the space formerly used by the automotive program, Rasch said.

This expansion will allow for more specialized training for business and industry partners, including seminar series, Rasch said.

By expanding evening and weekend programs, the college will be able to accommodate students who work or have other daytime obligations, Rasch said. The expansion will be systemwide, with more evening and weekend, online and distance learning courses available, he said.

In 2004, WWTTC joined with Viterbo University to start an associate of arts degree. Rasch said the college plans to continue offering the program and, by the end of spring 2006, expects to have more than 100 students enrolled.

"We will also be working with (other universities) to expand opportunities," he said.