Chippewa Valley Technical College President Sunem Beaton-Garcia, left, and UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo converse during Tuesday’s Reaffirmation Day in Eau Claire. The annual event reaffirms the commitment by UWRF and CVTC to work together to allow students to access programs at both institutions and transfer more easily. UWRF photo.

Reaffirming a commitment to students

Partnership between UWRF, CVTC provides additional educational options
 

River Falls, Wis. – Shortly after enrolling at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) last year, Holly Hufnagle learned she might not receive college credit for some of the Advanced Placement (AP) coursework she had completed in high school.

Frustrated, Hufnagle reached out to academic advisers at CVTC to see if those AP courses could count toward the associate degree she was seeking. She and her adviser worked through possibilities and ultimately found a solution that allowed Hufnagle to receive credit for those classes. 

“My biggest advice to students is talk with your advisers,” Hufnagle said. “If I had not done that, I would not be graduating with my associate degree next month and continuing my education journey. Reaching out can be kind of scary. But it really, really helps.”

Hufnagle will continue her academic career at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls beginning in the fall, when she will pursue a degree in biomedical and health science. She is one of many students who begin at CVTC and then go on to further their education at UW-River Falls, a process made easier because of an agreement established three years ago between the two schools. 

On Tuesday, the schools met at CVTC’s Eau Claire campus to reaffirm their commitment to enable students like Hufnagle to transfer from CVTC to UW-River Falls more easily. The agreement also enables students at both schools to access programs at the other institution and has established numerous classes and pathways to help students reach their academic goals. 

The Reaffirmation Day event included speakers from both schools discussing the importance of students being able to access academic programming in a way that helps them accomplish their academic goals. A student panel discussed challenges they face in navigating transferring schools and successes they have found through the relationship formed and strengthened by the two institutions. Event attendees took part in breakout sessions designed to refine and strengthen the agreement, providing students with even more options. 

“This work is really important in terms of offering our students as many opportunities as possible to find their academic paths and provide them with the resources they need to have successful outcomes,” UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo said. 

CVTC President Sunem Beaton-Garcia agreed, noting the many course options available to students at both schools that didn’t exist before the schools began working closely together three years ago. Continuing to evolve and expand the agreement is necessary given the changing job market and ongoing efforts to attract and retain students, she said. 

“We work all year long to create great outcomes,” Beaton-Garcia said. “We need to continue to do that work and to be willing to address the areas where we may be falling short.” 

UW-River Falls and CVTC staff work closely together to help students navigate transferring and accessing programs at the two schools, said David Toles, assistant director of admissions at UW-River Falls. CVTC students who transfer to UW-River Falls come prepared for their coursework, he said, noting that 47% of them earn scholarships. 

Connecting with students early in their academic careers helps make transferring easier, he said. Doing so helps students identify which courses are required to enable them to transfer and complete their majors at UW-River Falls. 

“We’re doing a lot of work to help these students get (to UW-River Falls) and to have success once they get there,” Toles said. 

The agreement between UW-River Falls and CVTC involves more than just transfer students. Through the agreement, students at each school are able to take courses at the other institution when needed, said Sarah Schliesmann, CVTC UW  transfer advisor.

For instance, she said, UW-River Falls students may find that a course needed for them to graduate does not have openings one semester. In many instances, students can enroll in a similar course at CVTC and receive credit, thereby keeping them on track to graduate in a timely manner. The agreement also plays a huge role with student retention, she said. 

“It’s not just about the traditional pathway from CVTC to UW-River Falls,” she said. “This agreement is really about offering the best available path for students at both schools.”

Chippewa Valley Technical College President Sunem Beaton-Garcia, left, and UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo, right, talk with CVTC student Holly Hufnagle during Tuesday’s Reaffirmation Day event in Eau Claire. Hufnagle will graduate from CVTC with an associate degree next month before continuing her education at UW-River Falls. UWRF photo.