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John Enger
Bemidji, Minn.

Academic overhaul announced at Northwest Technical College

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Northwest Technical College will revise its academic offerings to stop a drastic slide in enrollment.

The new Master Academic Plan announced Monday by President Richard Hanson comes at the end of a year-long effort to breathe new life into the college. Hanson, also president of Bemidji State University, said NTC's enrollment went from 950 full time equivalent students to just 650 in the past five years.

"When you lose that many students," he said, "you pay attention."

The school is also projecting a $1 million funding shortfall by 2016.

Hanson formed college and university staff members into a reinvention committee to develop plans that will concentrate on specialized trades that streamline the path to degrees. He also said the school will work more closely with area businesses and high schools.

The new plan, designed to boost enrollment to 800 students, details a host of changes planned over several years. Its broad goals include:

• Focus on the trades. Last year the college started a high skilled manufacturing program that focuses on computer-aided processes. It was the first time such a thing was offered, but it's still a fledgling program. Hanson plans to focus on developing that and other trade programs.

• Stackable degrees. Starting in the fall of 2015, students will obtain a series of certificates and diplomas on the way to a two-year degree. Then BSU will streamline its track to a four-year degree.

• Life experience. Students will be given more academic credit for life and work experience. The idea is to attract older and non-traditional students.

• Flexibility. Right now, most classes at the college run on a typical 16-week semester. Next fall, the college will offer compressed, half-semester classes, improving flexibility.

• Community involvement. College staff will be working with large area employers as well as high schools to better shuttle students directly into high-paying jobs.

• New identity. Sometime next spring, the college will take on a new name. Hanson isn't sure what that name will be, but said Northwest Technical College sounds outdated.