How This Rural Wisconsin Community College Raised Grads’ Wages — and Saved Its Accreditation

How this rural Wisconsin community college raised grads’ wages — and saved its accreditation

Reading Time: 9 minutesClick here to read highlights from the storySouthwest Wisconsin Technical College was named the top community college in the nation after revamping its curriculum and counseling to better position students for higher-earning careers.  The college cut majors that often led to low-paying jobs and added training for industry certifications that garner premium pay. It also raised pay for some of its own workers, then urged loc…

How this rural Wisconsin community college raised grads’ wages — and saved its accreditation - Open Campus

Eight years ago, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College faced a crisis. An accreditation agency had placed the Grant County community college on probation for shortcomings in using evidence to advance student learning.  Without improvements the college risked losing its accreditation, which would have affected the roughly 3,700 students near the Iowa border training for careers as mechanics, midwives, farmers and more. Without Southwest Tech, man…