Newsletter of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) SPRING 2021 VOL. 53 NO. 1 INDEPENDENT INSIGHTS Proposed increase to Wisconsin Grants funding Alverno College Governor Tony Evers recently announced while the cohort of individuals of retirement Bellin College his proposed state budget for the coming age is growing; already there are shortages Beloit College biennium which begins on July 1, 2021. He of physicians, engineers, and teachers. Cardinal Stritch University is recommending a 10 percent increase in Wisconsin will be in a ‘world of hurt’ if we Carroll University funding for the Wisconsin Grants program do not increase educational attainment of all Carthage College Concordia University for the first year of the coming biennium populations, including those who have been Edgewood College and another 10 percent for the second left behind. Across all WAICU members, Herzing University year of the biennium. Wisconsin Grants nearly a third of students are considered low Lakeland University are the primary means-tested student aid income[1]. We know student need is great Lawrence University program for Wisconsin students attending and growing. Marian University Marquette University a Wisconsin public or private nonprofit Because of the pandemic some students Medical College of Wisconsin college or university. Governor Evers is have dropped out; others have stopped Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design to be commended for his recognition of out. Because students and their families are Milwaukee School of Engineering the importance to our state of increasing struggling with unemployment many are not Mount Mary University educational attainment. even considering higher education. Nashotah House Northland College Wisconsin is at a pivotal point. What The Wisconsin Grant program, which Ripon College we do now will affect the state’s workforce began in 1965, empowers the individual St. Norbert College and economy for decades to come. It is no Wisconsin students to pursue the career Viterbo University secret that birthrates have been declining opportunities in their community for which Wisconsin Lutheran College continued on page 7 Did you know? WAICU members produce 24 percent of all bachelor’s degrees and 35 percent of all advanced degrees in the state. They also produce disproportionately high numbers of graduates in critical occupations. (Source: IPEDS, 2018-19) Bachelor’s degrees Advanced degrees 45% of business degrees 25% of engineering degrees 25% of business degrees 45% of education degrees 47% of medical doctoral degrees 59% of physician assistant degrees 100% of dentistry degrees 41% of health-related degrees 41% of health-related 51% of nursing degrees 37% of pharmacy degrees COUNSELOR NEWS & NOTES Free FAFSA completion assistance Attend a virtual college fair College Goal Wisconsin has added spring virtual workshops to assist families with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Go to www.collegegoalwi.org to register. Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEFs) will be held virtually with a chat feature on Wednesday, March 10 and Sunday, April 11. • The fair will be held from 3-5:00 p.m. • A financial aid presentation will be offered from 5-6:00 p.m. • Students can visit the virtual booths anytime (without the chat option). Visit the WAICU booth to learn more about • March 4 at 11:30 a.m. Wisconsin’s 23 private, nonprofit colleges and (Registration opens on February 24 at noon.) universities. • April 15 at 6:00 p.m. (Registration opens on April 6 at noon.) More information can be found at: www.wefs.org A presentation about WAICU-member colleges and universities is available at www.WisconsinsPrivateColleges.org. Requests for virtual presentations or questions may be directed to [email protected]. New Resources www.WisconsinsPrivateColleges.org • Question Portal: This feature allows students, parents, and school counselors to submit questions about Wisconsin’s private colleges. Inquiries are filterd by WAICU and sent to the appropriate members to respond directly. • Graduate Program Snapshots: This page highlights the graduate programs at WAICU members with Save the dates! The 25th annual joint open house of introductory slides, brief videos, and admissions contact WAICU members - Wisconsin Private College Week information. This information is also available for (PCW) - this year will be held in the form of virtual open undergraduate programs on the College Snapshots page. house events and in-person events conducted following safety and health guidelines. Students, their families, and school counselors are invited to learn more about the unique benefits and opportunities available at each college or university. Online registration for Wisconsin Private College Week will open in May: www.WisconsinsPrivateColleges.org/visit 2 SPRING 2021 THE WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS ALL WAICU MEMBERS FEATURED IN A REGULAR ROTATION We Energies STEM Center at MSOE Creates Opportunity MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING unique contribution to the STEM Center project, all The premier STEM destination for to support the shared goal Milwaukee students of all ages is now open of providing opportunities at Milwaukee School of Engineering. The We to bring together schools, Energies STEM Center at MSOE was made local companies, community possible thanks to the support of major groups, and organizations to partners We Energies, Rockwell Automation, create impactful, inclusive and American Family Insurance. The center programming. is home to all of MSOE’s STEM outreach Employment in STEM- efforts and offers programs designed to related jobs is expected to introduce students to science, technology, grow at 16 percent in the engineering, and mathematics. United States, far outpacing all “In 2017, MSOE made a strategic other employment fields. In K-12 students have a unique opportunity to learn about investment in STEM outreach by establishing addition, jobs in STEM fields STEM fields thanks to the We Energies STEM Center at the a dedicated department to grow, sustain, and earn on average 10 percent Milwaukee School of Engineering. develop a comprehensive STEM pipeline more than jobs with similar for all students in Milwaukee and beyond. education requirements. At the Since then, more than 10,000 students same time, there is a critical need for a more and a FIRST Robotics playing field for teams from 150 K-12 schools have participated in diverse workforce. Diversity and inclusion to practice on before they compete. Students our programs,” said Dr. John Walz, MSOE are an intentional and integrated part of the throughout the greater Milwaukee area have president. “The We Energies STEM Center strategy for the STEM Center. access to resources, mentoring, and hands- at MSOE is a game changer. We’ll be able to The 10,000-square-foot STEM Center on, experience-based learning and one-of- reach more students than ever before.” features a flexible technology studio, design a-kind experiences to get them hooked on MSOE and its partners each bring a and development lab, machine tooling area, STEM. g Lawrence partners with the partnership a great opportunity for six weeks with 75-minute weekly learning Lawrence to support area organizations in sessions. University of Wisconsin to new ways. The interactive sessions offered “Many CEOs in northeastern Wisconsin participants the opportunity to grow provide skills development have asked me over the past few years if their professional networks and get real- to local business community Lawrence could offer learning opportunities time feedback on their progress. The Live for their staff that would be practical, Learning Sessions were complemented by LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY tailored to their business needs, and locally pre- and post-work activities that included delivered,” Burstein said. “Teaming with an assessment tool, videos, readings, Lawrence University and the University CPED has allowed us to fulfill this need, discussions, and a final project. g of Wisconsin’s School of Business Center for relying on the expertise of the Professional and Executive Development Wisconsin School of Business (CPED) launched a partnership in late and Lawrence’s local knowledge 2020 to offer learning and development and talent.” opportunities to the business community in The first session in the the Fox Valley. partnership, held earlier this The courses are being delivered online year, drew participants from during the COVID-19 pandemic but will Jewelers Mutual, Johnsonville shift to in-person sessions on the Lawrence Sausage, Michel’s Corporation, campus when it is safe to do so. and Schreiber Foods. Lawrence leadership first began The early responses from the talking with CPED Director of Corporate course have been promising. Partnerships Mark Seifert in late 2018, It is traditionally a two-day expressing interest in using Lawrence immersive program. But with Warch Campus Center on the Lawrence University campus facilities and expertise to provide educational the onset of the COVID-19 will be the site of upcoming skills development courses for outreach in business skills development. pandemic, the program shifted the Fox Valley business community. Lawrence President Mark Burstein called to an online delivery, running (Lawrence University photo) THE WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT SPRING 2021 3 MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Viterbo University and Boys & Girls Club community partnership continues to flourish with scholarship program VITERBO UNIVERSITY to providing them In September 2005,