MONROE - The economic downturn is bringing layoffs across the county, and job losses are bringing increased enrollment at Blackhawk Technical College on Monroe's campus.
Jim Zurfluh, 41, Brodhead, resumed a business degree last fall at BTC after being laid off from the Lear Corporation in July 2008.
Lear, a subsidiary of the General Motors plant, manufactured seats for GM vehicles. The GM plant in Janesville closed Dec. 23.
Zurfluh's decision to return to school was a quick one.
"I could see the handwriting on the wall," he said.
Zurfluh decided to take two years in business management courses to add to his two years experience and two management classes transferred from Delaware Tech.
Management offers him a broader career spectrum and a "wider range for job opportunity," he said.
"I had a feeling what was happening. I think manufacturing is disappearing from this area," he said, noting cutbacks at two Madison appliance manufacturers, Subzero and Wolfe.
Zurfluh's partner, Charlyn Sorenson, also was laid off at Lear, but found a job at Lifetime Composite lumber at Woodbridge, only to be laid off again less than six weeks later.
This spring she also applied for classes at Blackhawk Tech, for training as a lab technician.
Zurfluh and Sorenson receive financial assistance for schooling through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program, a federal program through the Department of Labor for dislocated workers, which covers tuition and books.
Zurfluh said he also has veteran benefits that he has not yet used.
Going back to school is not as bad as one might expect, Zurfluh said. The school system is "flexible," he said.
Zurfluh is carrying 15 credits this semester and attends classes in Monroe twice a week. The rest of his time is spent studying and keeping up with living expenses with unemployment benefits, he said.
Chris Wellington, dean of the Monroe campus Blackhawk Technical College, said enrollment is up 25 to 30 percent or more in every class.
The Nursing Assistant course normally has 16 students per eight-week session. Wellington said the college admitted eight extra students "at the last minute" this January. The increase required adding another part-time instructor.
"That's a lot of students in a room meant for 16," she said. "And we have 25 more on a waiting list for this summer."
Students this session meet from 8 a.m. until 4:25 p.m. three times per week, and the cost of the three-credit course is $357.
The nursing assistant program has good placement results and is popular with displaced workers, Wellington said.
BTC graduate statistical data for nursing assistants for 2006-2007 shows 30 percent of respondents employed in their related field; 8.7 percent employed in an unrelated field; 59 percent unavailable for employment; and 3 percent still looking. The median hourly wages was $10.51.
Overall, BTC had a 91 percent placement rate for all 2006-2007 graduates, with three-fourths finding jobs in their fields. The median hourly wage was $13.50.
Of the employed graduates who responded to the survey, 62 percent were working in Green or Rock counties, with another 30.7 percent employed elsewhere in Wisconsin.
Zurfluh hopes to remain in Green County after graduation. He is networking through the Young Professionals of Green County and has become active in Forward Brodhead, which seeks to promote business growth in the city.
Len Walker, director of instructional advancement at the Blackhawk Tech main campus in Janesville, said the college has several popular courses.
"Welding, the health professions, especially nursing, HVAC, automotive technician and diesel; electric power lineman, as well as the culinary arts and business courses are all popular courses," he said.
And the school is seeing more women entering traditionally male fields, such as lineman, welding and diesel mechanics.
The total number of associate degree students at BTC has increased more than 25 percent since last year, with spring enrollment up more than 30 percent.
The number of vocational students enrolled this spring increased almost 50 percent over last spring.
Vocational non-credit courses have seen a dramatic drop of about 75 percent, although non-credited basic skills courses are up over 50 percent.
Property taxes help support state technical colleges.
Wisconsin Technical College System raised tuition 5.4 percent, to $97.05, for the 2008-09 school year.
Wisconsin technical college tuition has risen annually between 3.8 and 5.9 percent in the past 12 years, except in 2004, when it jumped 8.6 percent, and in 2006 when it jumped 8.1 percent.
Five state technical colleges offer liberal arts collegiate transfer courses that have a different tuition, according to Morna K. Foy, executive assistant with the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Blackhawk Technical College district, which serves most of Green and Lafayette counties, does not offer a liberal arts collegiate transfer program. The Blackhawk Technical District Board of Directors approved plans for college expansion in Beloit on Jan. 21, after several months of study and negotiation involving a number of prospective sites. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with occupancy slated for Aug. 1.
Programming envisioned to be provided at the Beloit Center includes health care professions, computer technology, adult basic education (GED/HSED and ELL), general education, community education and courses targeted to assist students to transition to programs at Central Campus. Two computer labs and a health sciences classroom will be available for instruction.
Jim Zurfluh, 41, Brodhead, resumed a business degree last fall at BTC after being laid off from the Lear Corporation in July 2008.
Lear, a subsidiary of the General Motors plant, manufactured seats for GM vehicles. The GM plant in Janesville closed Dec. 23.
Zurfluh's decision to return to school was a quick one.
"I could see the handwriting on the wall," he said.
Zurfluh decided to take two years in business management courses to add to his two years experience and two management classes transferred from Delaware Tech.
Management offers him a broader career spectrum and a "wider range for job opportunity," he said.
"I had a feeling what was happening. I think manufacturing is disappearing from this area," he said, noting cutbacks at two Madison appliance manufacturers, Subzero and Wolfe.
Zurfluh's partner, Charlyn Sorenson, also was laid off at Lear, but found a job at Lifetime Composite lumber at Woodbridge, only to be laid off again less than six weeks later.
This spring she also applied for classes at Blackhawk Tech, for training as a lab technician.
Zurfluh and Sorenson receive financial assistance for schooling through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program, a federal program through the Department of Labor for dislocated workers, which covers tuition and books.
Zurfluh said he also has veteran benefits that he has not yet used.
Going back to school is not as bad as one might expect, Zurfluh said. The school system is "flexible," he said.
Zurfluh is carrying 15 credits this semester and attends classes in Monroe twice a week. The rest of his time is spent studying and keeping up with living expenses with unemployment benefits, he said.
Chris Wellington, dean of the Monroe campus Blackhawk Technical College, said enrollment is up 25 to 30 percent or more in every class.
The Nursing Assistant course normally has 16 students per eight-week session. Wellington said the college admitted eight extra students "at the last minute" this January. The increase required adding another part-time instructor.
"That's a lot of students in a room meant for 16," she said. "And we have 25 more on a waiting list for this summer."
Students this session meet from 8 a.m. until 4:25 p.m. three times per week, and the cost of the three-credit course is $357.
The nursing assistant program has good placement results and is popular with displaced workers, Wellington said.
BTC graduate statistical data for nursing assistants for 2006-2007 shows 30 percent of respondents employed in their related field; 8.7 percent employed in an unrelated field; 59 percent unavailable for employment; and 3 percent still looking. The median hourly wages was $10.51.
Overall, BTC had a 91 percent placement rate for all 2006-2007 graduates, with three-fourths finding jobs in their fields. The median hourly wage was $13.50.
Of the employed graduates who responded to the survey, 62 percent were working in Green or Rock counties, with another 30.7 percent employed elsewhere in Wisconsin.
Zurfluh hopes to remain in Green County after graduation. He is networking through the Young Professionals of Green County and has become active in Forward Brodhead, which seeks to promote business growth in the city.
Len Walker, director of instructional advancement at the Blackhawk Tech main campus in Janesville, said the college has several popular courses.
"Welding, the health professions, especially nursing, HVAC, automotive technician and diesel; electric power lineman, as well as the culinary arts and business courses are all popular courses," he said.
And the school is seeing more women entering traditionally male fields, such as lineman, welding and diesel mechanics.
The total number of associate degree students at BTC has increased more than 25 percent since last year, with spring enrollment up more than 30 percent.
The number of vocational students enrolled this spring increased almost 50 percent over last spring.
Vocational non-credit courses have seen a dramatic drop of about 75 percent, although non-credited basic skills courses are up over 50 percent.
Property taxes help support state technical colleges.
Wisconsin Technical College System raised tuition 5.4 percent, to $97.05, for the 2008-09 school year.
Wisconsin technical college tuition has risen annually between 3.8 and 5.9 percent in the past 12 years, except in 2004, when it jumped 8.6 percent, and in 2006 when it jumped 8.1 percent.
Five state technical colleges offer liberal arts collegiate transfer courses that have a different tuition, according to Morna K. Foy, executive assistant with the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Blackhawk Technical College district, which serves most of Green and Lafayette counties, does not offer a liberal arts collegiate transfer program. The Blackhawk Technical District Board of Directors approved plans for college expansion in Beloit on Jan. 21, after several months of study and negotiation involving a number of prospective sites. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with occupancy slated for Aug. 1.
Programming envisioned to be provided at the Beloit Center includes health care professions, computer technology, adult basic education (GED/HSED and ELL), general education, community education and courses targeted to assist students to transition to programs at Central Campus. Two computer labs and a health sciences classroom will be available for instruction.