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WISCONSIN RAPIDS – During the Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) monthly board meeting, held Monday evening, board members heard a report about a study tour of Ireland from board member Dean Ryerson and Career Services & Campus Support Manager Kate Kaz. As part of the Community Progress Initiative activities, Ryerson and Kaz were members of a delegation of 16 Wisconsin Rapids area community and business leaders who spent eight days in Ireland in early November to find out what connections and business practices could be brought back for efforts to grow communities in central Wisconsin. “This visit provided the opportunity to examine and discuss how business, industry, education and local governments work together to build communities through economic development initiatives,” said Ryerson. He said Ireland’s primary challenges to economic and community development parallel the Wisconsin Rapids area. “Young people who graduate from the community and leave for employment elsewhere, concerns about changes in local industry and employment, and the role of education in economic development.” Both Ryerson and Kaz provided examples where the Irish have successfully worked across city and community boundaries to see economic and community development as a regional goal. “We heard the same statement expressed time after time during our visit and that is ‘we’re all in this together’,” said Kaz.
The board also heard a report from Marketing & Business faculty Patty Watson and Debby Wallner on how the MSTC marketing program partners with area communities. Watson said students in her Promotion Principles class successfully organized and marketed the 6th annual Hoops for Hunger, a charity basketball event which raised over $5,400 for local organizations. “The students worked hard to be creative and innovative with this project. They also gained relevant experience through this hands-on and practical application of an integrated marketing campaign,” said Watson.
Wallner provided an overview of the business retention and expansion plan survey that marketing students developed and analyzed for the Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance. Wallner said the marketing program incorporates business and technical skills, strategic marketing content and numerous hands-on or “real world” experiences to give students a broad base of applicable knowledge. “The business retention and expansion survey is just one example of how the marketing program has responded to community needs while providing real world experiences for our students.”
In board action, the board authorized administration to act on staffing needs for Fiscal Year 2007-08 based on program enrollment declines and planned program expansions.
The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be held Monday, January 15, at the Wisconsin Rapids campus. Committee meetings are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., with the regular board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. To learn more about MSTC programs and services, please call 888.575.6782 or visit the college’s website at mstc.edu.
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