For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: April 5, 2024

Foy makes Southwest Tech latest stop on Tour of Excellence

Fennimore -

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College hosted a special visitor on April 4. Dr. Morna K. Foy, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System, spent the day on campus as part of her Tour of Excellence. The tour includes visits to all 16 of the state’s technical colleges. The excursions began in fall 2023 and are expected to conclude this spring. The goal of the tour is to recognize and celebrate the technical college students, staff, instructors, alumni, and business partners who connect each college to their communities. “It was a pleasure welcoming Dr. Foy to campus,” said Dr. Jason Wood, Southwest Tech president. “Her visit allowed us another opportunity to show off what makes Southwest Tech great.”

While at Southwest Tech, Foy went through the various aspects of what it is like to be a potential student for the day. She began her day by completing a student success plan, which includes a career assessment, a budget for paying for life and college, and a support and services plan. She “participated” in the Charger Tech 360 onboarding process, and attended the Associate Degree – Nursing Advisory Committee meeting, to conclude the day. “It was really fun,” said Foy. “My personal experiences of navigating the process of college were nothing like this. There are so many career options out there today, so many different ways to learn, the cost of going to school is a bigger commitment. I don’t think, we, as a society, are being as efficient or successful in creating talent and creating opportunities when we leave it up to everyone to figure it out. I think what’s going on here at Southwest Tech is that they’re giving students more of a roadmap and actually meeting with individuals. It’s a pretty big commitment to provide that personalized type of assistance, but it is definitely student-focused, with the goal to improve student retention and student success. And, most importantly, allow students to find careers that will benefit them for a long time.”

Foy spoke with students, faculty, staff and administrators during her visit, and is now an “honorary” Charger. “There are some exciting things going on at Southwest Tech,” she said. “The way that support services has a plan that sees the student as a whole person, and their life outside of campus, is very important.”