Hello, 

This past year was my first as president of Chippewa Valley Technical College. Throughout the year I have had numerous opportunities to meet with community groups, service clubs, elected and corporate boards, business and industry representatives, and citizens. Everyone recognized and appreciated the valuable training and education CVTC provides to our students and the impact we have on our local economy. But many commented that they wished to know more about our college and would appreciate updates.

This is the first edition of our new electronic newsletter aimed at providing friends of CVTC with timely updates about our programs, our students, and the businesses we serve.

I hope you enjoy this edition. Please let us know what you like (and dislike) and topics you would like covered in future editions by sending your comments to: cjohnson@cvtc.edu.

Bruce A. Barker
President

A Recession Response: The CVTC Welding Package in Neillsville

CVTC’s efforts to boost employment in a county beleaguered by paper mill closings include a special one-semester nine-credit welding certificate designed to get people back to work as soon as possible.

The “MIG Welding Certificate” filled to capacity at 12 students shortly after opening in the fall semester and in mid-December counted a waiting list of ten. Registrations were spurred by media coverage in the Clark County Press, Tribune Record Gleaner, WCCN Radio and the Marshfield News Herald, as news of national economic recession first gained prominence.

Registrations for two additional one-credit courses, “Arc and Oxy-acetylene Welding I” and “Wirefeed and TIG Welding I,” are expected to be strong as well, according to Neillsville and Chippewa Falls Campus Manager Tim Shepardson. “The Neillsville welding package was designed with local industries in mind,” he said. Welding labs at Neillsville High School will be used in what Shepardson calls an “efficient use of scarce public resources.” Sign-up continues through early January.

All of the instruction will be offered by Chrystal Meinen, the first woman to teach welding at CVTC.

CVTC Gets Its Green Initiative Rolling

President Barker has led the college to establish five new initiatives, one of which is a green initiative in which all operations--instructional and otherwise--are tuned with an eye to conserving energy and preserving the environment. One of the first steps was the acquisition of a new hybrid car to be used in the CVTC automotive programs. Watch the video to hear Bruce Barker’s brief remarks.

Bishop Named CIO at Technical College

Jerry Bishop has been named the chief information officer at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Recently, Bishop was self-employed in information technology, completing a contract with Froedert Hospital in Milwaukee.
Bishop’s resume also includes information technology leadership for Jefferson Wells, the professional services firm. Prior to that, he held an information technology post with Johnson Controls. Both are international firms with locations in Milwaukee. Jefferson Wells is a unit of Manpower,Inc.
At CVTC, “we want to concentrate on maximizing existing investments,” Bishop said.
He holds a baccalaureate in vocational education studies and education training and development from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Bishop also earned an associate degree in nuclear technology from Phoenix University.
Bishop owns a farm near Warrens. He will continue to reside there with his wife.

Keys Named CVTC’s Vice President of Student Services

Margo Keys has been named Vice President of Student Services at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Keys will lead and supervise counseling, academic learning at satellite campuses and centers, student life, student disability and diversity services, the library and enrollment services. She assumes the responsibilities immediately.

“Margo has been a major contributor to CVTC’s quality improvement measures and the Title III Distance Education Grant project shared with UW-River Falls. She has also helped implement several important initiatives,” said Bruce Barker, CVTC president.

Most recently, Keys served as Dean of Students at the technical college, a position held since March 2008. From July 2006 to March 2008, Keys was manager of instructional support and development. Prior to that, she coordinated the technical college’s staff development.

For ten years beginning in 1994, Keys held faculty positions in Health Information Technology, the last two years of that tenure she served as the program’s director. 
 

CVTC Board Seeks Applicants

Applicants are sought for four positions on the Chippewa Valley Technical College nine-member board. Open positions for three-year terms include a school district administrator member, an employer member, and an employee member. A two-year interim elected official position is also open. Duties of district board members include governance, attendance at monthly board and committee meetings, and other state and national meetings.

Required materials include submission of a completed application and affidavit, and at least two letters of recommendation to the Appointment Committee. Applicants also must attend the public hearing and appointment meeting Monday, March 30, 1 pm, at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire.
Application materials and information are available at www.cvtc.edu, or call Candy Johnson at 715-833-6500. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 9, at 4pm.

Presenting the 2008-2009 CVTC Board

Front row, left to right: Marilyn Jaskot, board secretary and employee member from Thorp; Sue Kumferman, board treasurer and employer member from Eau Claire; Jesse Harness, school district administrator from Menomonie; Gary Brummeyer, board vice chair and at large member from Menomonie. 

Back row: Gary Mitchell, elected official member from Withee; Judy Kucera, at large member from Cadott; Frank Bucheger, board chair from Jim Falls; Mona Mathews, employee member from Eau Claire; and Larry Hagness, at large member from Durand.

CVTC Dental Clinic Boosts Public Health, Educates and Breaks Even on Top of It

CVTC Dental Hygienist Instructor Pam Entorf saw the opportunity to expand a learning lab into something now boosting the health of thousands in northwestern Wisconsin.

The Dental Clinic, in the Health Education Center at CVTC, served 7,351 patients in 2008, nearly all of whom would have gone without care if the clinic had not existed, said Entorf, clinic manager.

Lack of dental care for the uninsured has become an acute problem in northwestern Wisconsin, and in many places, as government health programs do not allow private sector dentists to break even on the provision of care. This comes as the mouth is increasingly recognized as a portal to the good health of the entire body.

Gum disease and heart disease have now been firmly linked by studies. And it’s no secret that infections arising in the mouth and resulting from a lack of dental hygiene can be fatal. So with grants, a good relationship with the onsite Marquette Dental School interns, and experienced staff like Entorf and Dr. David Johnson, as well as the student dental techs at CVTC, an enormous amount of important care is provided without encroaching on private dentistry.

What’s more, CVTC’s director of finance Kirk Moist points out that aggressive production by CVTC Dental Clinic staff has allowed the clinic to break even on its operations. There is no net cost to government!

People in Madison say it’s a national model and there’s little doubt that the effort is soon to attract more press attention.

Newsletter Distribution: Bev Hilton and Candy Johnson