By Tom Eckert
Blackhawk Technical College
Blackhawk Technical College recently consolidated the classroom portion of the nursing instruction to Central Campus in Janesville, which was previously delivered on both the Monroe and Central campuses. There has been disappointment expressed over this move.
Let me assure you, the decision to combine the students for the classroom portion of nursing was necessary and this change in no way reflects a lessening of the importance of the Monroe Campus as part of the BTC mission.
In support of the Nursing Program the Monroe Campus will continue offering the basic 120-hour Certified Nursing Assistant Program, the 72-hour Advanced Nursing Assistant Program, completion of up to 30 Nursing pre-petitioning credits, an on-site Nursing Skills Lab, local clinical experience, and training at the new Blackhawk Tech Simulation Lab located within the Monroe Clinic.
The decision to consolidate the classroom portion was based on the following factors:
1. Enrollment from Green County students was consistently low. Over the past four years in cohorts of 16 students, only six to 10 students came from Green County in each of those years. Approximately half of the students traveled to Monroe from Rock County.
2. Retention was challenging. When individual courses have enrollment as low as three or four students, the quality of instruction is compromised. The second year of the program was especially difficult, often ending the academic year with as few as three graduates.
3. Need to maintain consistency in the Nursing Program. The training equipment and the space that can be provided at Central Campus are difficult to replicate at the Monroe Campus. Also in the near future, space at Central Campus will be renovated for the Health Occupations programs (over 50,000 square feet) exacerbating the consistency issue. The Higher Learning Commission, the college's accrediting body, demands that one site cannot be greater or better equipped and supported than another.
Additionally to better connect the five BTC locations, a college shuttle will be provided beginning with this fall semester to provide better access to all of the BTC programs including important health programs like the Medical Laboratory Technician and Laboratory Technician Assistant programs which remain in Monroe. Additionally, BTC is exploring a special rural paramedic program to be offered at the Monroe campus if it is successful in passing the referendum on Aug. 12.
Let me reemphasize the Monroe Clinic will remain an important site for RN students from the BTC program for their practical, clinical experience. Also the new Blackhawk Tech Simulation Lab now located at the Monroe Clinic, will remain an important part of RN, EMT, and Paramedic training, as well as a useful training facility for Monroe Clinic staff.
The Monroe Campus remains an important part of the BTC educational mission and plans going forward call for expansion, not contraction.
- Tom Eckert is the president of Blackhawk Technical College.
Blackhawk Technical College
Blackhawk Technical College recently consolidated the classroom portion of the nursing instruction to Central Campus in Janesville, which was previously delivered on both the Monroe and Central campuses. There has been disappointment expressed over this move.
Let me assure you, the decision to combine the students for the classroom portion of nursing was necessary and this change in no way reflects a lessening of the importance of the Monroe Campus as part of the BTC mission.
In support of the Nursing Program the Monroe Campus will continue offering the basic 120-hour Certified Nursing Assistant Program, the 72-hour Advanced Nursing Assistant Program, completion of up to 30 Nursing pre-petitioning credits, an on-site Nursing Skills Lab, local clinical experience, and training at the new Blackhawk Tech Simulation Lab located within the Monroe Clinic.
The decision to consolidate the classroom portion was based on the following factors:
1. Enrollment from Green County students was consistently low. Over the past four years in cohorts of 16 students, only six to 10 students came from Green County in each of those years. Approximately half of the students traveled to Monroe from Rock County.
2. Retention was challenging. When individual courses have enrollment as low as three or four students, the quality of instruction is compromised. The second year of the program was especially difficult, often ending the academic year with as few as three graduates.
3. Need to maintain consistency in the Nursing Program. The training equipment and the space that can be provided at Central Campus are difficult to replicate at the Monroe Campus. Also in the near future, space at Central Campus will be renovated for the Health Occupations programs (over 50,000 square feet) exacerbating the consistency issue. The Higher Learning Commission, the college's accrediting body, demands that one site cannot be greater or better equipped and supported than another.
Additionally to better connect the five BTC locations, a college shuttle will be provided beginning with this fall semester to provide better access to all of the BTC programs including important health programs like the Medical Laboratory Technician and Laboratory Technician Assistant programs which remain in Monroe. Additionally, BTC is exploring a special rural paramedic program to be offered at the Monroe campus if it is successful in passing the referendum on Aug. 12.
Let me reemphasize the Monroe Clinic will remain an important site for RN students from the BTC program for their practical, clinical experience. Also the new Blackhawk Tech Simulation Lab now located at the Monroe Clinic, will remain an important part of RN, EMT, and Paramedic training, as well as a useful training facility for Monroe Clinic staff.
The Monroe Campus remains an important part of the BTC educational mission and plans going forward call for expansion, not contraction.
- Tom Eckert is the president of Blackhawk Technical College.
