Delivering health care professionals, first responders and essential workforce
Wisconsin's technical colleges are investing millions to adapt instruction and ensure that essential workers can earn their credential and transition to the workforce as quickly as possible this spring and summer, including:
- 800+ Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Fire Medics
- 700+ Registered Nurses (RNs)
- 600 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
- 400 law enforcement and recruit academy officers
- 300+ Medical Assistants
- 90 Medical Lab Technicians
- 80 Respiratory Technicians (RTs)
- 70 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
Maintaining focus on student success and faculty support, the colleges also continue to deliver other skilled graduates that serve as the backbone of Wisconsin’s “essential workforce,” including:
- truck drivers
- transportation, distribution and logistics professionals
- food producers (agriculture), food production and manufacturing technicians
- utilities technicians
- skilled tradespeople
- equipment manufacturing technicians
Vital Medical Equipment
Wisconsin technical colleges quickly loaned or donated vital medical and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, to health care providers and first responders, including:
- ventilators
- gloves, masks, gowns and face shields
- 3D printers to rapidly manufacture additional PPE components
The colleges also worked with area medical facilities and first responders to sterilize medical and other equipment and supplies.
Vibrant Community Partnerships
In many instances, Wisconsin's technical colleges have made other resources available to community partners.
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) supported a number of basic community needs by transporting items such as food and diapers to local non-profit organizations, re-deploying its trucking equipment and staff to this effort.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) made its Ashland facilities available for a blood drive. In addition, it served as a voting location to avoid having a local nursing home, the scheduled polling place, do so.
Chippewa Valley Technical College’s (CVTC’s) Fire Safety Center will house efforts to decontaminate emergency response vehicles in the event that the COVID-19 response overwhelms current resources.
Gateway Technical College in Kenosha will serve as a drive-through COVID-19 testing site for specific referrals, in support of the Kenosha Health Department.