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WISCONSIN RAPIDS – During the Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) monthly board meeting, held Monday evening, members learned of the college’s expanded online course offerings. According to Dr. Sue Budjac, Vice President of Academic Affairs, MSTC currently offers 18 online courses and plans to offer over 40 courses by this fall and grow to over 60 online courses by fall, 2008. “The ability to provide increased access and options to meet student needs is critical.” Dr. Budjac said major areas of online courses will be in business management as well as several nursing program lecture courses and Emergency Medical Services (EMT) courses. “All of the online courses are conducted over the Internet, which means students can ‘attend’ lectures and complete assignments whenever and wherever it's most convenient for them,” said Dr. Budjac. “We recognize that our students have busy lives and expanding our online courses provides a convenient and flexible way for students to advance their education.”
In other news…
Beginning this fall, MSTC plans to implement a textbook rental program limited to general education courses. According to Nelson Dahl, Vice President of Finance, the proposed textbook rental program will save students on average 65% in lieu of purchasing their textbooks. “We could reduce students’ average cost to purchase a book from $81.64 to a rental price of $28.52. Students’ out-of-pocket savings for general education books will average $300,” said Dahl. He said the rental program would operate as an extension of the college’s bookstores. If the program is successful, Dahl said it would be expanded to other program areas beyond general education. Dahl added that he was not aware of any other Wisconsin technical college that has a book rental program. “MSTC’s proposed textbook rental program is intended to improve student affordability and access to our programs.”
During the Committee of the Whole, members learned additional details regarding a plan to develop approximately 55 acres of land on the Wisconsin Rapids campus into a Technology Park that would accommodate ten businesses. According to Dr. John Clark, MSTC President, the Technology
Park proposal has received much interest and support from area business, industry and community leaders. “We’re advancing this unique proposal as it certainly has great possibilities for MSTC and central Wisconsin. The Technology Park development is targeted to new businesses to locate and partner with the college to increase the number of high skill, high wage and high demand jobs.” Dr. Clark said the college will move forward with the proposed plan and meet with community leaders to discuss infrastructure, right-of-way and utility development needs.
The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be held Monday, April 16, at the Stevens Point 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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