NWTC District History

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a publicly supported, high technology college working closely with businesses and residents of Northeast Wisconsin to provide the education that residents and employers need.

In the early 1900s, most workers in Wisconsin received all of their higher-level education through the apprenticeship system - both job skills and academic skills. In order to standardize the education that these working young adults received in reading, writing, and math, the State of Wisconsin promoted the creation of city vocational schools.

Schools sprang up in Green Bay and Marinette in 1913, followed in 1941 by a school in Sturgeon Bay. Their scope expanded to include adults of all ages who were interested in technical careers, whether or not they were in the workforce.

In 1968, the three schools joined to become a single district in what is now the Wisconsin Technical College System. The combined service areas of the Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay campuses include part or all of nine counties.

Today, NWTC offers over 70 Associate Degree and Technical Diploma programs, nearly 40 certificates, contracted business services, personal enrichment and continuing education courses. This wide range of programs serves a wide variety of needs; in an average year, NWTC serves one in eight District residents, or nearly 40,000 people including :

• Post-secondary students taking courses that led to degrees or diplomas, either full-time or part-time
• Students taking individualized continuing education or corporate skill training
• Students taking math, communications, and community service classes that provide skills for living, working, and enjoying life

Read about the NWTC District Board and how NWTI became NWTC!