Academic & Student Services
Supporting Wisconsin's School-to-Work System
2001 Bulletin
Wisconsin's School-To-Work System Models Collaboration
Strong academic, technical and life skills are what Wisconsin's business and educational leaders have determined to be necessary skills for students' future success. Wisconsin's School-to-Work system opens the door to all students and helps develop their potential and ability to succeed in the complex, highly technical world we share. Wisconsin's School-to-Work system is the result of a statewide collaboration, centering on students that includes: parents; educators; employers; labor; and local, state and federal governments.
School-to-Work
(STW) strives to assist students in making the connection between the
classroom and the world of work. By combining rigorous school and work-based
learning opportunities with enhanced career exploration and guidance,
Wisconsin's educational system is developing students with stronger skills
so they are better prepared to enroll in a university, enter a technical
college or go directly into the workforce. The University of Wisconsin
System enthusiastically participates in this exciting collaboration.
Collaboration is Key to Wisconsin's Educational System
Through Academic and Student Services (ACSS), the UW System has undertaken a number of initiatives
that demonstrate its support for and involvement in STW. These initiatives
include, but are not limited to, the following recent developments:
- Effective Fall 2000, students enrolled in the Wisconsin Technical College
System (WTCS) occupational-technical Associate of Applied Science programs
may transfer up to two courses in mathematics and/or natural science
to UW institutions. These courses are in addition to the up to 15 credits
in general education courses in communications and behavioral and social
sciences previously accepted.
- The UW System and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) signed
a new agreement that permits students who have earned an Associate Degree
in Nursing to apply 60 credits toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
degree offered through the Collaborative Nursing Program at UW-Eau Claire,
UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh.
- UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside have developed Early Childhood Education articulation
agreements based on the new Wisconsin Technical College System statewide
common core curriculum in Early Childhood. Students who complete the
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education at
any of the WTCS districts will be able to transfer credits into these
two programs. UW System faculty and staff have been working with WTCS
and Wisconsin Head Start on this initiative. It is anticipated that
additional UW institutions will develop statewide early childhood education
articulation agreements within the next year.
- The UW System has made PK-16 relationships a priority. The vision is to foster
collaboration among the WI Department of Public Instruction, Technical
College System, UW System and private colleges to form partnerships
with business, industry and government to enhance education and learning
opportunities throughout Wisconsin so all students are prepared to live
in, and contribute to, a vibrant 21st Century society. To help accomplish
this vision, key leaders from these areas have come together to form
the PK-16 Leadership Council. The goals of the Council include: building
a statewide network for information sharing and cooperation; increasing
student readiness to succeed in postsecondary education by improving
the quality of PK-16 teacher preparation; and aligning high academic
standards for PK-16 students with postsecondary education. The initial
areas of focus are: expanding opportunities for early childhood education;
the senior year of high school; and teacher training and professional
development. For information see http://www.wisconsin.edu/pk16/.
UW Institutions Are Committed to School-To-Work
Individual UW institutions are engaged in a variety of initiatives related to STW.
Selected examples include:
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UW-Eau Claire - CESA 10, the Chippewa Valley STW Consortium, the Cray Academy
and UW-Eau Claire have collaborated to create the Institute for the
Coordination and Supervision of Work-Based Learning. Educators will
enhance their skills and leadership in developing, supervising, coordinating
and evaluating certified work-based learning programs. The Institute
blends academy-based sessions with a five-day externship in a corporate
or industrial setting; UWEC will offer college credits for this experience.
For more information contact: Linda Dunahee at dunahee@cesa10.k12.wi.us.
-
UW-Milwaukee - Medicine, Engineering, Dentistry, Agriculture, and Law (MEDAL) Career Exploration
Series is a joint project sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction, UWM, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering,
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee
Area Health Education Center. MEDAL encourages minority high school
students to participate in a highly informative and motivational series
of career workshops conducted by experienced professionals and college
students majoring in these fields. For more information contact: Marion
McDowell at marionm@uwm.edu.
-
UW-Oshkosh - The UW System Women and Science Program, recipient of the 2001 Hesburgh
Award for Excellence, is located at the UW-Oshkosh. This program seeks
to address the under-representation of women and minorities in mathematics,
science and engineering. UW System programs, contacts, and links to
science and technology opportunities are available at http://www.uwosh.edu/wis/girls.htm.
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UW-Parkside - Students who have completed an A.A.S. in Accounting, Logistics,
Marketing or Supervisory Management at Gateway Technical College in
May 1998 or later are eligible to transfer up to 51 credits towards
the completion of a Business Management major at UW-Parkside. Program-to-Program
articulation agreements exist for several areas in addition to Business.
UWP has also initiated the Youth Research Project to offer an integrated
program of education, training, work experience and mentoring for youth
interested in social research to participate in an actual research project.
UWP faculty will work with Racine youth in research design and survey
development. The focus of the survey is to determine what factors will
help youth choose to remain in the community when they become working
professionals. Contact: Joann Goodyear at goodyear@uwp.edu.
-
UW-Stevens Point - A course focusing on STW concepts is taught each summer
for approximately 45-50
in-service K-12 teachers. Unique features of the course include a panel of employers and students involved in youth apprenticeship courses, resource persons from various state agencies with up-to-date information on K-12 STW programs, as well as labor market information and a presentation on "An Economist's Perspective of STW" using instructional technology with on-line resources. A co-sponsor is the Center for Economic Education at UW-Stevens Point. Contact: Cheryl Fedje at cfedje@uwsp.edu.
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UW-Stout - CESA 5, the regional high schools and UW-Stout have collaborated
to create the Lodging management and Marketing Youth Apprenticeship
Program. The students will follow a proficiency-based program designed
and endorsed by the Hospitality Business Alliance. Students completing
the program will receive a National Certificate of Achievement; can
receive up to 10 credits at UW-Stout toward a degree in Hotel, Restaurant
and Tourism Management; as well as having the required work experience
requirement satisfied. Contact: Chris Smith at smithch@uwstout.ed.
- UW-Whitewater - The Educator Externship Program offers the opportunity for elementary, middle, secondary and technical college educators and staff to obtain undergraduate and graduate credit. Educators work 40 hours in local businesses gaining valuable experience in learning what students need to know and be able to do for success in today's workplace. This program has been available for credit at UW-Whitewater for the past six summers; an average of 50 educators have enrolled. A special section is offered for public school counselors. Contact: Jeffrey Barnett at barnettj@uwwvax.uww.edu.
For more information about these and other School-to-Work related activities contact Sal Carranza, Office of Academic Affairs, University of Wisconsin System, 1220 Linden Drive, 1630 Van Hise Hall, Madison, WI, 53706, (608) 265-9177, scarranza@uswa.edu