WISCONSIN RAPIDS - During the Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) Board of Directors meeting held Monday evening, the Board agreed to move forward with three new renewable energy programs. The associate degree programs include Biorefinery Technology, Renewable Electricity Technician and Renewable Thermal Energy Technician. All three programs will be unique to the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). Pending approval from the WTCS Board in April, MSTC would begin to offer these programs for the fall 2008 semester. Dr. John Anderson, Life Sciences and Chemistry Instructor, and Ron Zillmer, Associate Dean in the Technical & Industrial Division, provided the Board with additional details and said implementation of the three programs will require two full-time faculty positions, support from existing faculty and an associate dean position. According to Zillmer, the process to determine the programs' viability with employers revealed a statewide need. "The concept of the renewable energy programs at MSTC has received support from Governor Doyle and Congressman Obey as well as from employers throughout the state. In addition, we're anticipating a strong student demand as green industry careers continue to grow."

Details for the new renewable energy programs are as follows:
	Biorefinery Technology - Program will prepare technicians to perform operations and maintenance tasks in the expanding biofuel and biogas production and biorefining industries. The curriculum will emphasize learning and performing the mechanical processes of biofuel production and biorefining, as well as plant operations, systematic troubleshooting, logical problem-solving and safety.
	Renewable Electricity Technician - Program will prepare technicians who design, install, operate and maintain solar and wind electricity generating systems for both residential and light commercial applications. Technicians will perform site assessments and integrate new renewable electricity systems with current existing energy sources. Renewable electricity technicians may be involved in the sale or marketing of solar PV and wind energy technologies.
	Renewable Thermal Energy Technician - Program will prepare technicians who design, install, operate and maintain solar, geothermal and biomass heating systems for both residential and commercial applications. Technicians will perform site assessments and integrate new renewable thermal systems with current existing energy sources. Renewable thermal energy technicians may be involved in the sale or marketing of solar, geothermal and biomass thermal energy technologies.

In other news...
The Board heard an enrollment report from Connie Willfahrt, Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Technology. Willfahrt said college enrollment has increased 6.6% compared with last January. She said all three of MSTC's campuses (Marshfield, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids) are experiencing growth. "Some contributing factors to the increased enrollments include new program offerings, additional sections added due to demand, increased online offerings and enrollments in the interwoven degree programs with Lakeland College." Willfahrt said that while many programs are experiencing growth, most notable growth is found in the IT-Programmer/Analyst,
IT-Networking, Administrative Assistant and Business Management programs.

MSTC and Lakeland College have added two degrees to the interwoven degree programs in Business Management. One program has an entrepreneurship specialization and the other a quality management specialization. According to Dr. Sue Budjac, Vice President of Academic Affairs, these additions bring the total to 13 interwoven programs and continue to reflect the college's commitment to meet student and employer demand for increased access to high-quality educational programs. "Students can simultaneously attend both colleges and earn their associate and baccalaureate degrees without worrying about transfer credit or leaving the MSTC campus." The Board approved a resolution for construction of a 7,500 square foot addition and remodeling of 6,250 square feet on the Wisconsin Rapids campus to support the educational needs of the Protective & Emergency Services programs. According to Dr. Budjac, several community police and fire emergency response services provided invaluable feedback regarding the expansion proposal. Pending necessary WTCS Board approval, construction on the project is anticipated to begin in August.

The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be held Monday, March 17 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.