http://www.westerntc.eduThis the Western News Release RSS Feed. This feed shows news releases affecting Western Technical College and its population.http://www.westerntc.eduhttp://www.westerntc.edu/images/logoRSS.gifWestern Technical College will be hosting the spring session of Camp W-Kid’s College on Saturday, April 24, from 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Western’s La Crosse Campus. Twice each year (fall and spring), the college hosts Camp W, a youth enrichment program designed for area children in grades 4-6. Western faculty and staff volunteer their time and talents to give area children the opportunity to explore special interests in a unique educational setting and to see what the college is all about. Courses can include everything from building toolboxes to maneuvering around in wheelchairs, making beaded work to taking pictures, or just clowning around. And while some of the classes correlate to an academic program offered at the college, some are designed just for fun. Students can choose up to three of the 16 different classes to attend throughout the morning. To register, each participant must complete a Camp W form online at www.westerntc.edu/campw. Classes fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. Completed on-line registration forms and registration fees ($24 for three classes) must be turned in by Friday, April 9 to the Western Technical College Foundation Office located on the third floor of the Western’s Administration Building on the corner of Seventh and Main Streets in La Crosse, or mailed to 400 7th St. N., P.O. Box 908, La Crosse, WI 54602-0908. All checks should be made payable to Camp W. For more information on Camp W, please contact Jaime Fortier at 608.785.9487. To learn more about other Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1251The Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District will hold a public hearing and meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, in Room 408 of the Western Administrative Center, 111 North Seventh St., La Crosse. The purpose of the hearing/meeting is to review the applications submitted for consideration for the openings of one Employee member, one Employer member, and one Additional member to the Board of the Western Technical College District. The following persons have submitted applications and must be present at the meeting on March 25 and be interviewed to qualify for appointment to the Board: Ann Dehmer, Black River Falls (Jackson County); Lynn E. Erickson (Incumbent), Mauston (Juneau County); Daniel P. Hanson (Incumbent), Onalaska (La Crosse County); Steven K. Kopp, La Crosse (La Crosse County); Dennis Treu, Sparta (Monroe County); and Christine M. Williams (Incumbent), Sparta (Monroe County). No names, other than the above, will be accepted from the floor at the time of the Board Appointment Committee meeting. Immediately following the Public Hearing, the Board Appointment Committee will approve a Plan of Representation that gives equal consideration to the general population distribution and the distribution of women and minorities within the District. The Plan will be the basis upon which the appointments to the District Board shall be determined. The Board Appointment Committee, at this meeting, will appoint three of the above-named persons to fill the three open positions. Each of the appointments will be for a for three-year term (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013) on the Board of the Western Technical College District. To learn more about Western programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1250Soon after Lenora Parr, of La Crosse, was selected as the 2010-2011 Western Technical College Student Ambassador, she also received notification that she was named a New Century Scholar by the Phi Theta Kappa-International Honor Society of the Two-year College. As Student Ambassador, Parr will serve as an official spokesperson for Western and the Wisconsin Technical College System. She will have opportunities to speak to potential students, community leaders, community groups, and others, and will spotlight the important role of technical and occupational education to the economy and society. In addition, she will represent Western at the state level by working with other student ambassadors throughout the WTCS. The New Century Scholars program is an extension of the All-USA Academic Team, an academic and service competition, which annually recognizes 60 outstanding two-year college students. The highest-scoring student in each state in the All-USA Academic Team competition is named a New Century Scholar and receives a $2,000 scholarship funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. As a New Century Scholar, Parr will represent all technical college students from Wisconsin at the American Association of Community Colleges convention in Seattle, Wash., April 17-19. Parr is Respiratory Therapy program student at Western. She is a single mother of two, who chose a technical college to fulfill her desire to earn a degree in a short amount of time, while remaining in La Crosse. She is actively involved in Phi Theta Kappa, the Tobacco-Free Campus committee, and the Respiratory Therapy Club. To learn more about Western Technical College programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1252Western Technical College Therapeutic Massage students are literally gaining hands-on experience by offering a massage and bodywork clinic that is open to the public. From March 23-May 13, appointments will be taken for Tuesdays at 4:00, 5:30, and 7:00 p.m., and Thursdays at 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. Sessions will be held in room 129 of the Coleman Center, 304 6th St. N., La Crosse. Services offered include relaxation, deep tissue, sports massage, reflexology, and pregnancy massage. Cost is $25 for a 55-minute session. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Jeanne Johnson at 608.789.4709 or johnsonj@westerntc.edu. To learn about additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1248Western Technical College recently unveiled a new campaign designed to promote manufacturing careers to middle school students. The campaign, “Max and Ben’s Manufacturing Adventures,” is one of the activities funded by the Department of Labor’s Community-based Job Training Grant, which Western received in early 2009. Of the nearly $2 million grant, 2.4 percent, or just over $47,000, has been designated to increase the skill level in manufacturing occupations through implementing K-12 initiatives. According to Jeff Kroes, Western’s CBJT grant project development coordinator, “Wisconsin has the highest percentage of non-governmental jobs in manufacturing of any state, just over 20 percent. In 2004, 43 percent of those workers were 45 or older and the percentage was increasing. If Wisconsin (and the US) is to continue to have manufacturing jobs, we must encourage our youth to enter those occupations. The best way to encourage them is to let them (and their parents) see for themselves that manufacturing jobs are interesting, challenging and rewarding.” In order to engage middle school students, it was important for the college to have a unique voice. And what better voices to use than those of other middle school students? For one of the K-12 grant activities, Western has enlisted the help of two eighth grade students, Max and Ben, who were willing to visit local manufacturing businesses and document their visits with video. “The Max and Ben activity is based on the movie ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,’” said Amy Thornton, Marketing and Communications director at Western. “That movie made history more exciting by putting two young people right in the middle of it. That’s what we’re doing with Max and Ben – letting them experience manufacturing firsthand and see what it’s really like.” And, the boys really do become immersed in the action. They take turns using Flip-video cameras to produce YouTube-quality footage, and they ask their own questions at the businesses. Western hired Interact Communications, in Onalaska, to consult on the project, edit the footage, and film portions of the visit where the boys get more hands-on, like when they welded steel at one business and test drove a motorized wheelchair at another. To help disseminate the message, Max and Ben’s Adventures has taken a mass audience approach through the use of the internet. Video footage from the duo’s trips to area manufacturing businesses is featured on www.maxandbenadventures.com. Currently, the website shows the boys’ first visit to D&S Manufacturing in Black River Falls, Wis. On Friday, March 12, the site will be updated with a visit to The La Crosse Tribune. And every two weeks, another adventure will be added. Companies that have already committed to host visits include, S&S Cycle in Viola, Camp-Inn in Necedah, and Skipperliner in La Crosse. “We really wanted a good cross-section of businesses to start with,” said Thornton. “This shows the variety of occupations that people with manufacturing related degrees can pursue. From using computer programmed robotics to make precise parts for motorcycles to controlling tolerances for welds on huge yachts, the variety of jobs featured is very eye-opening.” “We have had a great response from the participating businesses,” said Thornton. “And, the list of businesses who would still like to participate continues to grow. They are excited by the prospect of showing students that manufacturing careers aren’t the dirty, monotonous jobs that they are sometimes perceived to be.” Humor was also an important element of the project. Max and Ben had fun with it and were typical pre-teens during the video shoots, as can be witnessed by the outtakes, which are also included on the website. “This was one more way to engage the younger audience,” said Thornton. “The K-12 audience is a key target for the manufacturing industry,” added Deb Hether, tech prep specialist at Western, who is also involved in the CBJT grant activities. “It’s important to reach students early, before they make their career decisions. This way we can make sure they really understand what manufacturing careers are and what classes they need to take in middle and high school to be prepared for these careers.” For more information about the CBJT grant or the Max and Ben Adventures project, contact Jeff Kroes at 608.789.6252. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1247Western Technical College is offering the class “Grant Writing-Get Results” on Tuesdays starting March 23 and ending April 20. The class will be held from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Western’s La Crosse Campus. Participants will learn how to identify and research resources available to help fund programs and projects. Topics include how to craft clear goals and objectives, build a budget, and create a dynamic narrative for funding proposals. For more information or to register, call 608.789.6100 or e-mail murphyc@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1246Three area businesses have recently completed a Leadership Certificate with Western Technical College in Black River Falls. Badger Mining Corp., D&S Manufacturing, and Regal Beloit have received the specialized training through Western’s Business and Industry Services Division. Western BIS representatives regularly meet with business leaders to determine training needs and then develop opportunities that could benefit several businesses to help make the training more affordable. Badger Mining Corp., D&S Manufacturing, and Regal Beloit leaders described a need for enhancing employees’ leadership qualities. “We want to do a better job of preparing our employees for leadership roles within our company. We opened this opportunity up to individuals who were interested in promotional opportunities to a supervisory or other leadership position or who were identified by management as potential future leaders in our organization,” said Sherrie Hein, Human Resource manager at D&S Manufacturing. “Since the training, we have seen personal growth in all of the participants and two of the D&S participants have already received promotions.” Linda Arzt, training and development associate at Badger Mining Corporation, echoed the importance of the training. “Our associates have been able to apply learning directly in the workplace. This creates a lot of value for our associates and our companies.” And, in addition to being more affordable, offering the training to more than one business can help in other ways as well. “One of the added benefits was establishing a network with other local businesses,” said Patty McSwain, Human Resource director at Regal Beloit. “The participants from the three companies have grown together as a team,” added Arzt. “They help and support each other to learn and are improving their knowledge, skills and abilities to be more effective in their positions.” The collaborative nature of the training also allowed Western to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Community-based Job Training Grant. The grant provided 18 credits to the 14 students and covered approximately 50 percent of the entire training program. For more information on Western’s customized training options, visit westerntc.edu/bis or contact Marianne Torkelson at torkelsonm@westerntc.edu or 715.284.2253. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1245On Wednesday, March 3, students in Western Technical College’s DisAbility Support Specialist program will be promoting “Spread the Word to End the Word” awareness on campus. The campaign is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and their supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the “r” word. At 9:30 a.m., Western President Lee Rasch will make a proclamation to declare March 3 as “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day” at Western Technical College. He will make the announcement in front of the Health/Safety & disAbilities class, in Room 3002 of the Health Science Center, and then officially encourage all students and staff to spread the word throughout their communities. Everyone will also be encouraged to sign a pledge to support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech to promote the acceptance and respect of people with intellectual disAbilities. Pledge cards will be available in the Health Science Center lobby or the Kumm Center 1st floor hallway. Online pledges are also available at www.r-word.org. The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations, and communities to rally and pledge their support with a goal of reaching 100,000 pledges. To learn more about Western’s DisAbility Support Specialist program or additional programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit westerntc.edu.http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1244Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services Division is offering OSHA 10-Hour training on Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17, from Noon-5:00 p.m., at the Mauston Regional Learning Center, 100 College Ave. Designed for Human Resource Managers, manufacturing employees, and supervisors needing OSHA certification, this training covers regulations including, recordkeeping, fire safety, and hazardous walking and working surfaces. Participants completing the seminar will earn a 10-hour OSHA card. Cost is $149 for the two sessions. For details on this and other seminars, visit westerntc.edu/bis. To register, contact the Lifelong Learning department at 608.789.6021 or e-mail bushm@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1243Students of the Supervisory Management class have stepped forward to establish a scholarship in memory of Craig Meyers. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations: Administrative Center: Karla Koch – Rm. A106 Jaime Fortier – Third Floor Academic Resource Center: Ann Kelly – Rm. R100 Automotive Technology Center: Karen Larson – Rm. ATC104 Business Education Center: Karen Kaiser – Rm. B104 Lori Olson – Rm. B202E Campus Shop: Dawn Konze Center for Childhood Education: Kim Herman – Rm. CCE127 Coleman Center: Kimberly Hanson – Rm. C227 Nicki McCallson – Rm. C110 Cathy Welch – Rm. C114 Health Science Center: Shari Borreson/Kathy Gregerson – Rm. H4058 Michelle Hansen – Rm. H0024 Kumm Center: Paula Zastrow – K211 Dave Bates – K-301 Lunda Center: Kelly Kass Physical Plant: Julie Dahl – P114 Public Safety Training Center: Louise Jones (Sparta) Technics Center: Nancy Boero – Rm. T234 Welcome Center: Jackie Newman – Rm. R164E Check (payable to Western Technical College Foundation) or cash donations will be accepted through March 12. Donations after that time can be sent to Western Technical College Foundation Office, 400 Seventh St. N, La Crosse WI 54601. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1241On behalf of Western Technical College students, staff and faculty, College President Lee Rasch expresses his deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Craig Meyers. A body, believed to be that of Craig, was recovered from the Mississippi River Tuesday afternoon by the La Crosse Dive and Rescue Team. “While Craig was a Western student for only a short time, his death certainly brings sadness to our campus community. It is always difficult to lose those individuals whose futures seem so bright. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Craig’s family and friends, and to our colleagues and fellow students at UW-L who enjoyed his friendship and life as a UW-L student. We want to thank the La Crosse Police Department, La Crosse Fire Department Search and Rescue Team, Dive Team, and other area organizations and volunteers that helped in the search for Craig. We also appreciate the professionalism of the local media in gathering and reporting information to the community during this time. In times of crisis our community comes together and this was demonstrated once again in the disappearance of Craig. We are proud to be part of a community who responds so quickly and with such heart in times of need. We had all hoped for a different outcome, but we are fortunate to have the support and caring of so many people.” http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1240Western Technical College and UW-L will hold a Celebration of Craig Meyers Life on Tuesday, Feb. 16 starting at 6:30 pm at Western's Lunda Center. The event is open to anyone who wishes to offer support to the family and friends of Craig. There will be a short program and participants will have an opportunity to share their stories and thoughts of Craig and to gather in a place of comfort and reflection. The Lunda Center is located at 319 Seventh Street North in La Crosse. Parking is available in all campus parking lots at no cost. For more information about this event contact Julie Lemon at lemonj@westerntc.edu or 608.785.9890.http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1239Steve Doyle, Chairperson of the Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District, has announced that he will accept applications of district residents for consideration for appointment to the Board of the Western Technical College District. Application materials will be available beginning Friday, Feb. 19 and must be returned by 4:00 p.m., on Friday, March 5. The Board Appointment Committee will appoint three persons to the Western District Board at a public hearing and meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 25. Three appointments, for three-year terms commencing July 1, 2010, will be made in accordance with the Plan of Representation. The Plan of Representation states that the District Board must be organized to represent employees, employers, and the general population at-large throughout the district; giving equal consideration for male, female, and minority representation. The Western Technical College District encompasses 11 Counties in Wisconsin. Currently the District Board has three representatives from La Crosse County, two from Monroe County and one each from Juneau, Vernon, Trempealeau, and Jackson Counties. The following chart shows the representation of population in Western’s District: The District Board member categories with vacancies are one employer member, one employee member, and one additional member, all of whom must be residents of the Western Technical College District. The Western District Board is responsible for the administration of vocational, technical, and adult education programs and services in the District as authorized by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board according to state legislature. Appointments are subject to confirmation by the WTCS Board. Applicants must submit at least two letters of reference supporting their nomination to the District Board, and they must attend a Public Hearing and meeting of the District Board Appointment Committee and be interviewed. Application materials are available at the office of Steve Doyle, Chairperson, Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District, beginning Feb. 19. For application materials, please call 608.785.9563. Completed applications must be submitted to the Chairperson of the Board Appointment Committee no sooner than Friday, Feb. 19 and no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 5. Address all materials and inquiries concerning applications to: Mr. Steve Doyle, Chairperson Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District La Crosse County Administrative Center, Room 3260 400 4th Street North La Crosse, WI 54601 The Western District Board currently holds its regular meetings during the afternoon of the third Tuesday of each month at the District offices in La Crosse. The District Board annually sets the regular meeting time and date at its July organizational meeting. Special Board meetings are held as needed at the district offices in La Crosse. District Board members serve without compensation, but receive reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in performing official duties. District Board members are required to abide by the State of Wisconsin Code of Ethics and must file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1242Western Technical College recently joined in the launch of a new national effort to encourage sustainability practices in all aspects of campus life. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) introduced STARS (Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) version 1.0 and formally launched its online Reporting Tool on January 19. To date, over 115 higher education institutions have registered as STARS Charter Participants and Western Technical College is proud to be one of them. Western became a signatory of the American College and Presidents Climate Commitment in late 2007, and has been working hard on achieving many of the tangible items required in the commitment. The college has calculated its carbon footprint, several renewable energy projects in the works, LEED certified and sustainable buildings under construction, a new and improved recycling program, a sustainability website, free public transportation for students and staff, and is in the process of developing new “green” classes and programs. “Western is striving to become a leader in sustainable efforts in our district. We hope to reduce our emissions and impact on the environment, while providing training opportunities for our students and community members with in-house renewable energy projects,” said Erica Black, Western’s Climate Commitment Projects Assistant. AASHE’s STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves a comprehensive process of collecting and publicly reporting information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance in education and research; operations; and planning, administration and engagement. “The advantage of STARS is that all aspects of campus life are taken into consideration with regard to the ability to earn credits,” said AASHE Executive Director, Paul Rowland. “From providing sustainability coursework, to dorm cleaning products, to energy efficiency in campus buildings, there are lots of opportunities for a school to identify and track its sustainability progress.” Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education in the US and Canada and the criterion that determines a STARS rating is transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions around the country. “We are looking forward to increased participation and the expansion of our sustainability efforts on campus through the STARS program,” Black said. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1238Western Technical College’s student-run restaurant will open for business on Thursday, Feb. 4. The Western Corner Bistro, located on the first floor of the Kumm Center, 400 6th St. N., La Crosse, is open to the public on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. throughout the spring semester. The eatery is run by the second-year Culinary Management and Food Production Specialist students and gives them an opportunity to experience the different aspects of operating a restaurant. The students learn everything from running the cash register to preparing and serving the meals. Menus for Western Corner Bistro were produced by Menu Design students and selected by a team of well-known area chefs. The entrees change at the mid-semester point, but will include a hot sandwich, soup, salad, pork, seafood, and chicken option. Desserts are also available. Restaurant reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling Mike Oliver at 608.785.9271 or e-mailing oliverm@westerntc.edu. In addition to the restaurant, the students also take part in running a bakery. Bakery items are sold in the Kumm Center TC Café, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (unless sold out earlier). The bakery is also open to the public. To learn more about Western’s Culinary Management and Food Production Specialist programs or additional programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1236Western Technical College accounting and finance students will provide volunteer tax assistance for people with basic tax returns – particularly for those with low and limited income, students, individuals with disabilities, and elderly taxpayers. Assistance will be available on Mondays between Feb. 8 and April 5 (except March 15), from 4:45-8:00 p.m. in Room 114 of Western’s Business Education Center, 405 N. 8th St., in La Crosse. Tax returns will be electronically filed and the service is free. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must bring a picture ID, all W-2s, 1099s, interest statements, social security cards for everyone on the return, including spouse and dependents, and a copy of last year’s taxes if available. Volunteers are unable to do filing for married people who are filing separately, as well as those who were divorced in 2009. For details, call 608.785.9168. For more information about other programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu.http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1237Western Technical College is offering a seminar series entitled “Starting/Managing a Small Business.” Classes will be held Wednesdays, Feb. 3-March 3, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Western’s La Crosse Campus. Topics covered will include the role of small businesses, general functions and problems of management, reasons for success and failure, legal problems and procedures, capital and credit, staffing and planning for business operations. Cost is $44.56. For more information or to register, call 608.789.6100 or e-mail murphyc@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1235Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services is offering an eight-hour refresher training on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Black River Falls campus, 808 Red Iron Rd. This session complies with MSHA regulation and provides the annual refresher training required of miners and other people working with sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, colloidal clay, colloidal phosphate, surface limestone, and other types of surface and/or subsurface mines. Cost is $75. For details on this and other seminars, visit westerntc.edu/bis. To register, contact the Business and Industry Services Division at 608.789.6021 or e-mail bushm@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1234Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services Division is offering free Leadership in Manufacturing certificates. The training is funded through the Department of Labor’s Community-based Job Training Grant and is offered at no cost to a limited number of participants. The three six-credit certificates are offered in an accelerated format, where each certificate is presented in two eight-week courses. Classes will meet once a week from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the La Crosse Campus. The first certificate, Human Factors Leadership, meets Wednesdays, starting Jan. 20; the Operations Leadership certificate begins March 24; and the Team Leadership certificate begins Aug. 18. The courses are designed to enhance interpersonal and management skills, and will cover topics such as supervision, safety, quality, team building, and leadership. Participants who complete three certificates will earn the Leadership in Manufacturing certification, which ladders into Western’s Supervisory Management associate’s degree program. Class size is limited to 25 students. For details on this and other seminars, visit westerntc.edu/bis. To register, contact the Business and Industry Services Division at 608.785.9291 or e-mail schellr@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu.http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1233As part of its Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, Western Technical College is hosting the group The Music Extravaganza. They will perform Monday, Jan. 18, from Noon-1:20 p.m. in the Kumm Center TC Café, 400 Sixth St. N., La Crosse. Western’s Student Government and Multicultural Club are sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public. The members of The Music Extravaganza come from diverse backgrounds. They play a mixture of rock, reggae, blues classical, Christian rap, gospel, Motown, and jazz. For more information on the event, contact Bernard Black at 608.789.6270. To find out about other programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1232For the past year, Western Technical College has been investigating the possibility of expanding its current facility in Black River Falls or relocating the campus to a more central location in the heart of downtown. Representatives from Western have met with city officials and local business owners to discuss the future of the campus. According to Mike Pieper, Western’s vice president of finance and operations, it was determined that moving the campus downtown would be in the best interest of the community and the college. “This decision was not entered into lightly,” explained Pieper. “Our current facilities are not adequate for the programming we need to offer. The addition of the nursing program and expanded business and industry services require more space.” Sally Lister, the Jackson County representative who serves on Western Technical College’s District Board, agrees that the downtown location is mutually beneficial. “I often hear that people don’t even know Western has a campus in Black River Falls,” she said. “I believe a downtown campus would open up learning opportunities for more people in Jackson County.” The success of Western’s other downtown campus locations, including those in La Crosse, Tomah, and Viroqua, has also been an important consideration in planning for the future. “In 2007, we moved our Tomah campus downtown and since that time, we have expanded programming, developed new partnerships with downtown businesses, and experienced increased enrollment,” said Pieper. In downtown Black River Falls, the site that most fits the needs of the college is the former IGA building, located at the corner of Fillmore and South First Streets. Western officials have been working with Reinhart Real Estate Group, Inc. on the possibility of acquiring the property. “Our discussions have been encouraging, and we are excited about the possibility of moving into that location,” said Pieper. “It would be highly visible and easily accessible. It would also provide an ample number of parking spaces.” “The proposed location is walkable for many, not to mention the positive impact it will have on surrounding businesses,” added Lister. There are still a few steps that need to be taken before Western can make the move downtown. The first issue is the existing property at 808 Red Iron Road. “We have determined that selling the current facility is probably the best option, but we may consider leasing out the property as well,” said Pieper. “We will be engaging a realty firm to put it on the market and get the word out to interested parties.” The Western Foundation is also looking to supporters for financial contributions to help secure the downtown site. “We have generous donors who feel strongly about the mission of our technical college,” said Lynn Rudig, executive director of the Foundation. Another option would be to pursue state grants and other funding sources. If enough funds are raised, the college can move forward with the purchase of the new facility with or without selling the current site. “We’re hoping to be able to secure the new site by spring,” said Pieper. “It all depends on the amount of support we receive. But, we are confident that this will be a good move for us and another step toward revitalizing downtown Black River Falls.” http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1231The Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District will hold a public hearing and meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, in Room 408 of the Western Administrative Center, 111 North Seventh Street in La Crosse. The purpose of the hearing/meeting is to review the applications submitted for consideration for the vacancy of one Elected Official member to the Board of the Western Technical College District. The following persons have submitted applications and must be present at the meeting on Jan. 14 and be interviewed to qualify for appointment to the Board: Carrie L. Buss, Mauston, Wis. (Juneau County); Ray A. Ebert, West Salem, Wis. (La Crosse County); Edward J. Lukasek, Sparta, Wis. (Monroe County); Rudolph W. “Pete” Peterson, Tomah, Wis. (Monroe County). No names other than the above will be accepted from the floor at the time of the Board Appointment Committee meeting. Immediately following the Public Hearing, the Board Appointment Committee will approve a Plan of Representation that gives equal consideration to the general population distribution and the distribution of women and minorities within the District. The Plan will be the basis upon which the appointments to the District Board shall be determined. The Board Appointment Committee, at this meeting, will appoint one of the above-named persons to fill the vacant position. The appointment will be for the remainder of the original three-year term (immediately upon approval by the State Board through June 30, 2011) on the Board of the Western Technical College District. To learn more about Western programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the Western Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1230Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services is offering a Lean Essentials Certificate series of six workshops to help manufacturing businesses streamline their processes. The training is offered as part of a Community-based Job Training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Beginning in January, workshops will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Western’s Mauston Regional Learning Center, 1000 College Ave. Topics are as follows: Jan. 13 Lean 101: Introduces the systematic approach to eliminating waste in the manufacturing process. Interactive learning with live simulations provide realistic before and after scenarios. Feb. 10 Value Stream Mapping: Learn the role and expectation of a Value Stream Manager and understand how to form and lead a team to drive organizational change. March 10 Quick Changeover/Set-up Reduction: Builds on the principles of the Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) system to dramatically reduce or eliminate change over time. The four step changeover process is used to help companies design no-cost / low cost solutions to reduce change over time. April 14 5S/Visual Workplace: Learn how to employ the 5 S methods and implement visual workplace techniques in your operations. May 12 Principles of Cellular/Flow Manufacturing: Links manual and machine operations into the most efficient combination of resources to maximize value-added content while minimizing waste. June 9 Total Productive Maintenance: Learn to analyze overall equipment effectiveness to determine how much equipment time is being used effectively. To earn the Lean Certification, participants must attend all six Lean workshops and complete an on-site company project. Seminars may also be taken individually for those not seeking certification. Cost of the training is covered by the CBJT grant, with the exception of a $30 fee per seminar for materials and refreshments. For details on this and other seminars, visit westerntc.edu/bis. To register, contact the Business and Industry Services Division at 608.785.9291or e-mail schellr@westerntc.edu. For information on additional Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1229Western Technical College campuses will be closed for the holiday season from Thursday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 3. College business and administrative offices, including counseling and registration, will reopen Monday, Jan. 4. Spring semester courses will begin on Monday, Jan. 18. For more information on Western’s programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1228Western Technical College offers a Supervisory Management program that can be applied to a variety of career tracks. An information session about the program will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in room 102 of the Business Education Center, 405 8th St. N., La Crosse. The public is invited to attend this free event. The Supervisory Management program is designed for people interested in acquiring or improving supervisory and leadership skills with a business emphasis. Students in this degree program are given tools to engage in the challenges facing today’s workplace through leadership, quality, and safety. In addition, this program develops soft skills such as strong work ethic, positive attitude, effective communications, time management, problem solving, teamwork, valuing diversity, self-confidence, professionalism, stress management, flexibility, and adaptability. There are three optional formats for completing the program: online, face-to-face, or blended ITV. Students can choose to take their entire degree in an online format with instructors from business and industry. The face-to-face format utilizes accelerated learning techniques that enable students to meet one evening per week for their core courses. The blended option combines online with the face-to-face format via Interactive Television (ITV). All three options are available at Western’s La Crosse Campus this spring. For details on the Supervisory Management program, contact Josh Gamer at gamerj@westerntc.edu or 608.789.6117. For information about additional programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1227Western Technical College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering have partnered to offer a new transfer option to students. As part of the program-to-program articulation agreement, qualified Western Mechanical Design students can transfer their credits toward a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at MSOE. The purpose of the “2+2” agreement is to provide students with additional opportunities for meeting their educational and career goals. The majority of classes for the MSOE program can be taken at night, allowing students with the Mechanical Design Technology associate’s degree to work in the field while they earn their bachelor’s degree. “This agreement provides an affordable head start to students desiring an engineering degree,” said Peg Boudreau, Western Technical College vice president of instruction. “And, it reflects a level of commitment by both institutions to our students’ success.” This transfer option adds to several existing agreements between the two schools. Currently, qualifying Western Electrical Engineering Technology graduates can enter as a junior into MSOE’s Electrical Engineering Technology program. Western graduates with an Associate of Applied Science degree in a business area may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in one of five concentration areas: information systems, operations management, marketing management, financial management, or business administration. For more information about the transfer agreement, visit westerntc.edu/getstarted/transferout or contact Linda Griggs at 608.789.4798. To find out about other programs and services at Western, visit westerntc.edu or call 608.785.9200. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1226