Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) brought together community leaders, employers, elected officials, and partners for its annual State of the College event—highlighting how the College is intentionally designed to help students succeed beyond graduation and meet the evolving workforce needs of Northeast Wisconsin.
Held in NWTC’s new conference center, the event brought together partners from across the region to reflect on progress, share outcomes, and look ahead at the College’s path forward in a changing landscape.
“It’s not just what we do that’s impressive—it’s how we approach our work and hold ourselves accountable for delivering results that set us apart,” said NWTC President Dr. Kristen Raney.
Impact by the numbers
NWTC continues to play a critical role in preparing a skilled workforce and expanding access to education across Northeast Wisconsin. In the 2024-25 academic year:
- 4,193 credentials were awarded to 3,572 students, including associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates
- Nearly 6,000 high school students across 77 districts earned 32,860 college credits and 600+ credentials, saving families an estimated $5.5 million in tuition
- More than 2,200 workforce training experiences were delivered through NWTC’s Corporate Training and Economic Development programs
- Nearly 300 students completed a GED/HSED, with about one-third continuing into college programs at NWTC
“When a student earns a credential, it changes more than their résumé. It changes their earning power. Their family’s stability,” Raney said.
Behind these numbers are students balancing work, family responsibilities, and financial pressures—highlighting the importance of designing systems that support their success.
“These numbers tell an important story,” Raney said. “They reflect the scale of our work—but more importantly, they represent students building better futures and employers finding the talent they need.”
Different by design
NWTC’s approach is grounded in a clear goal: ensuring students not only enroll and graduate, but go on to succeed in their careers. This includes:
- Aligning programs with workforce demand to connect students to strong-wage, high-growth careers
- Expanding access through dual enrollment, adult education, and community partnerships
- Integrating academic and support services to help students persist and complete their programs
“At NWTC, student success isn’t accidental. It’s engineered for real students—students with jobs, families, financial constraints, and complicated lives,” Raney said. “We remove barriers to completion, align programs to high-demand careers, and ensure our graduates leave not just with a credential—but with a pathway to economic mobility. Better lives, better jobs, better communities. That’s the measure we hold ourselves accountable to.”
Meeting the moment with focus and determination
This year’s State of the College also recognized broader challenges facing higher education—particularly the misalignment between how colleges are funded and how today’s students learn, work, and prepare for careers.
“The workforce is changing at a pace we have never experienced before,” Raney said.
At a time of workforce shortages, shifting demographics, and increasing pressure on higher education funding, NWTC is focused on sustaining and scaling what works—modernizing delivery, strengthening partnerships, and aligning programs to meet real-time workforce needs.
Raney emphasized that these challenges are also driving innovation and action across the College.
“At NWTC, we see these disruptions not as obstacles, but as a call to action to find innovative solutions to demographic changes and workforce demands.”
A shared responsibility for the region’s future
The event reinforced that the future of Northeast Wisconsin’s workforce depends on continued collaboration between education, industry, and community leaders—along with systems and funding models that recognize outcomes, access, and economic impact.
“In a time of uncertainty, NWTC delivers certainty: that education can lead to opportunity; that disruption can be met with design; and that this college will continue to adapt, innovate, and lead on behalf of the region we serve,” Raney said. “With continued partnership and advocacy, we can ensure NWTC remains strong, accessible, and responsive for generations to come.”
