WCTC to discontinue personal enrichment courses

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Wednesday, April 17, 2019) – Waukesha County Technical College will discontinue personal enrichment courses such as arts and crafts, home furnishings, quilting and sewing, clock repair and similar offerings, effective January 1, 2020 – pending approval from the WCTC District Board of Trustees. A public hearing on the proposal will be held on May 14 at 5 p.m. in the Richard T. Anderson Center at the Pewaukee campus (800 Main St.). The budget will be voted on and adopted at the June 11 board meeting. 

The difficult decision by College administration to eliminate these courses has been a fiscal one; the College has incurred, for several years, a financial loss relating to personal enrichment courses.

Also, with declining enrollments, reduced revenue from state aid and tuition, and with expenses of the College continuing to grow, administration must prioritize its resources to determine how dollars are best spent.

“Decisions like this are never made lightly; we know many students have enjoyed these courses through the years," said Kaylen Betzig, President of WCTC. "The annual cost to run these courses, however, is significantly higher than the revenue generated through tuition, leaving the College with a substantial financial loss.”

The College will continue to maintain its focus on the WCTC mission to provide accessible career and technical education along with maintaining its key strategic directives: helping students learn, meeting stakeholder needs, valuing employees, planning and leading, and resource stewardship.

While hobby-related personal enrichment courses will be eliminated, noncredit education that focuses on workforce and specialized training, such as computer training, motorcycle training, graphic design, etc. will still be offered.

Additionally, WCTC encourages those who enjoy taking personal enrichment courses to consider the options available at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Waukesha and the Learning in Retirement organization. Waukesha County Parks and Recreations, senior citizen centers and public libraries also offer similar courses.