APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – For years, Fox Valley Technical College graduates have moved on to get bachelors degrees from schools like their long-time partner, Lakeland University.
Now, instead of having to re-acclimate to a new campus, they can just walk down the hall. FVTC and Lakeland signed an agreement allowing Lakeland to utilize classrooms and offices on the FVTC Appleton campus.
“Lakeland university will relocate classes and services from its current fox cities center to fox valley technical college’s Appleton campus,” said Fox Valley Technical College Interim Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Jennifer Lanter. “With this associate degree then transfer to Lakeland with junior standing where students can apply their credits towards a bachelor’s degree program.”
About a third of students who attended classes through Lakeland University’s Fox Cities center were graduates of Fox Valley Technical College.
“More than 75-percent of adult learners come to Lakeland through the technical college system, so we’re very proud to add Fox Valley Tech as a co-location partner in this work,” said Lakeland Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Joshua Kutney. “Students can complete their associate degree here at Fox Valley Tech, and then continue their educational journey at the same location and often times with many of the same instructors. Students don’t have to navigate a transition, we’re making it as seamless as possible.”
“Students are going to be able to access our resources here at Fox Valley Tech throughout their associate degree, and they going to be able to continue to access those same resources as they transition to their bachelor’s degree. They’ll have the opportunity to remain here and take classes here to finish out their degrees,” Lanter added.
“Fox Valley Technical College students will be able to connect and explore baccalaureate degree options without leaving our Appleton campus. They have convenient access to their FVTC advisors and Lakeland faculty and staff who can help coordinate their educational journey,” said Fox Valley Technical College President, Dr. Chris Matheny.
The partnership is expected to make an impact for students like Josh Ritzman. Ritzman is a graduate from both schools, including a master’s degree from Lakeland University, and currently works as a Regional Manufacturing Engineering Systems Manager for Plexus.
“All of that couldn’t have been possible without Fox Valley Tech’s help in allowing me to flex and move around within different programs so I could narrow down where I wanted to go. It helped propagate me into my professional career and helped me navigate some of those challenges,” Ritzman said.
With the spring semester already over, the transition will be complete in time for Lakeland students to start classes in the building in the fall.
Lakeland’s space at FVTC, located just inside Entrance 15, will also include an office presence and access to several other classrooms during the spring, fall and summer semesters.
Over the past 2.5 years, a total of 633 students have taken classes through Lakeland’s Fox Cities Center at its current location, 2320 Industrial Drive in Neenah. That total includes 227 students who graduated from FVTC.
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