Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, November 03, 2007

Western deal offers UW studies options

By KJ LANG / La Crosse Tribune

Mauston, Wis. — A new agreement will allow students at two rural Western Technical College sites to more easily take classes at nearby University of Wisconsin campuses in Sauk and Richland counties.

The pact Western officials signed Thursday with UW-Baraboo/Sauk County and UW-Richland in Richland Center will permit students to start their associate of arts and science degrees at Western’s Mauston and Viroqua sites and complete work at either UW campus.

By attending either UW school, students then would be able to more easily transfer to a four-year UW institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree, according to a Western press release.

The motivation for the new agreement stems from concerns that Wisconsin has fewer residents per capita with baccalaureate degrees than surrounding states, said Linda Schwandt, Western’s dean of General Education and Educational Services.

An increasing number of Western students also have indicated they intend to pursue a four-year degree, so this arrangement will provide more opportunity to do that, she said.

The agreement also signifies a growing collaboration among Wisconsin’s higher education institutions, she said.

Western in the past has worked with Viterbo University and UW-La Crosse on several agreements that allow some classes to transfer among the schools.

KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.