Mid-State Technical College and Wisconsin Automotive & Truck Education Association (WATEA) hosted an event to celebrate their successful three-year partnership to provide student transportation via the Mid-State shuttle. The event took place on Monday, June 16, at Mid-State’s Wisconsin Rapids Campus. 

Launched in August 2022, Mid-State’s 15-passenger shuttle service was conceived and implemented by the Mid-State-WATEA collaboration and funded by a State of Wisconsin Workforce Innovation Grant (WIG). The program supports four passenger vans providing free transportation for students between the college’s four campuses—Adams, Marshfield, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids—as well as the AMETA Center and various community locations. 

The shuttle service allows students to ride free of charge, providing opportunities for students to enroll at programs offered at any campus or center. To date, more than 6,000 rides have been provided to over 300 students, resulting in 94 students retained in their degree programs who would otherwise have withdrawn or stopped out due to transportation barriers.

“At WATEA we are very proud of our part in many initiatives over the years to build a stronger community, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Mid-State on this grant,” said WATEA Co-Founder Kent Olson. “This partnership has surpassed our delivery goals and outcomes from its inception, and both organizations should be very proud of our shared work to take on and deliver such a unique venture that has delivered so many positive outcomes for students.” 

“Our incredible collaboration with WATEA to deliver Mid-State’s pilot shuttle program has been such a success, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the positive impact it has already made for students,” said Mid-State President Dr. Shelly Mondeik. 

Although the WIG grant is expiring at the end of June, the shuttle program will continue uninterrupted into the coming school year thanks to funding assistance provided by the Mid-State Technical College Foundation, Inc., and the Mid-State Student Leadership Board. In the meantime, Mid-State is looking for a new partner to help sustain the program on an ongoing basis.

“We are so grateful to the Foundation and Student Leadership Board for stepping forward to help us continue the shuttle program for now,” Mondeik said. “We look forward to identifying our next partner to help us deliver this important resource on an ongoing basis, ensuring we are doing all we can to keep students enrolled in their degree programs and deliver career-ready graduates to the workforce.”

Learn more about the Mid-State shuttle at mstc.edu/shuttle.