In today’s higher education environment, characterized by limited or declining financial resources, institutions face increasing challenges in meeting four critical needs: maintaining and growing enrollment, building necessary instructional facilities and labs, acquiring the latest instructional equipment, and advancing key initiatives. Mid-State Technical College, located in central Wisconsin, has found a way to successfully address all four—through purposeful partnership.
Intentionally seeking partnerships with clear goals has been essential for our college to meet the evolving demands of students, employers, and the communities we serve. As an institution, we consistently ask ourselves three guiding questions:
● Who can we partner with on this need or project?
● Who can help us?
● Who needs or will value the outcomes that will be produced?
These questions have been instrumental in driving our growth and achieving key objectives. Over the past five years, Mid-State has increased enrollment by more than 40 percent. This growth has been supported by collaborative program evaluation, the development of a workforce and economic development department to serve incumbent workers, and a strategic focus on strengthening partnerships with K–12 systems and community agencies across our district.
The impact of purposeful partnership has been transformative. For example, we collaborated to construct a state-of-the-art healthcare simulation center within a local working hospital, as well as a $23 million standalone Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, and Apprenticeship (AMETA®) Center.
In the case of the simulation center, we identified a critical need to expand access to our nursing program and ultimately strengthen the nursing workforce. By applying our partnership framework, we engaged healthcare providers, resulting in a collaboration with a local hospital for space and a regional foundation for funding. Pursuing a project of this scale independently would not have been financially feasible.
Similarly, the AMETA Center was made possible through partnerships with more than 300 businesses and individuals, along with eight government entities, to secure the necessary funding. When the need for advanced equipment arose, purposeful partnership again provided the solution. Through targeted collaboration, employers and state and local municipalities contributed the equipment required to fully outfit the facility. These public-private partnerships have been central to our institution’s transformation.
Partnership development has become an action-oriented strategy embedded in all aspects of our work, including student support. For instance, we identified transportation as a barrier for students traveling to and from campus. Applying our partnership approach led us to Wisconsin Automotive & Truck Education Association. Together, we established a districtwide student shuttle service that has proven highly successful.
Additional examples include partnerships with employers to provide full-tuition scholarships, collaborations that allow us to deliver credit and noncredit courses within employer facilities, and joint efforts with community organizations to support campus food pantries.
Purposeful partnerships have enabled us to clearly demonstrate mission fulfillment through expanded access, strengthened academic and workforce pathways, improved student outcomes, and deeper regional impact. By intentionally exploring partnership opportunities at the outset of every need, our college has become more responsive, innovative, and agile—and we believe this approach will be essential to sustaining a strong and vibrant future.
Intentionally seeking partnerships with clear goals has been essential for our college to meet the evolving demands of students, employers, and the communities we serve. As an institution, we consistently ask ourselves three guiding questions:
● Who can we partner with on this need or project?
● Who can help us?
● Who needs or will value the outcomes that will be produced?
These questions have been instrumental in driving our growth and achieving key objectives. Over the past five years, Mid-State has increased enrollment by more than 40 percent. This growth has been supported by collaborative program evaluation, the development of a workforce and economic development department to serve incumbent workers, and a strategic focus on strengthening partnerships with K–12 systems and community agencies across our district.
The impact of purposeful partnership has been transformative. For example, we collaborated to construct a state-of-the-art healthcare simulation center within a local working hospital, as well as a $23 million standalone Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, and Apprenticeship (AMETA®) Center.
In the case of the simulation center, we identified a critical need to expand access to our nursing program and ultimately strengthen the nursing workforce. By applying our partnership framework, we engaged healthcare providers, resulting in a collaboration with a local hospital for space and a regional foundation for funding. Pursuing a project of this scale independently would not have been financially feasible.
Similarly, the AMETA Center was made possible through partnerships with more than 300 businesses and individuals, along with eight government entities, to secure the necessary funding. When the need for advanced equipment arose, purposeful partnership again provided the solution. Through targeted collaboration, employers and state and local municipalities contributed the equipment required to fully outfit the facility. These public-private partnerships have been central to our institution’s transformation.
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When partnerships are intentional, they become a force that strengthens communities, expands access, and accelerates outcomes.
Partnership development has become an action-oriented strategy embedded in all aspects of our work, including student support. For instance, we identified transportation as a barrier for students traveling to and from campus. Applying our partnership approach led us to Wisconsin Automotive & Truck Education Association. Together, we established a districtwide student shuttle service that has proven highly successful.
Additional examples include partnerships with employers to provide full-tuition scholarships, collaborations that allow us to deliver credit and noncredit courses within employer facilities, and joint efforts with community organizations to support campus food pantries.
Purposeful partnerships have enabled us to clearly demonstrate mission fulfillment through expanded access, strengthened academic and workforce pathways, improved student outcomes, and deeper regional impact. By intentionally exploring partnership opportunities at the outset of every need, our college has become more responsive, innovative, and agile—and we believe this approach will be essential to sustaining a strong and vibrant future.
