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Laid-off job seekers seek college first

ROCK TOWNSHIP — Layoffs, future layoffs and fears of layoffs have boosted Blackhawk Technical College’s enrollment for this fall.

Enrollment of full-time students is up 18.7 percent from last year at this time. Enrollment of students of all kinds is up nearly 16 percent.

BTC’s response: Let’s invite even more “transitioning” workers to seek their futures here.

Not only that, but let’s have a big event where hundreds of people can learn about the college’s programs.

And let’s give them a free lunch in the bargain.

The open house is set for Friday. It will help workers who need help enrolling, registering for classes or just considering their options.

Workers’ families also are invited to learn what BTC is like.

The event will include a lunch that is free to participants.

BTC has plans to accommodate 450 people and backup plans to handle even more.

“We’re hoping it can be a non-threatening, very friendly kind of event,” said BTC spokesman Len Walker.

“It’s an attempt on our part to remove some of confusion that may exist out there” about BTC, Walker said. “There’s a lot of fear out there. For individuals who haven’t taken a class for 10 or 20 years, it’s a big change, and we’re hoping this event can address that.”

Meanwhile, lines to register have been out the doors at times in recent days at BTC’s central campus, Walker said.

And students aren’t done enrolling, yet. The big enrollment push usually comes in August, Walker said. Classes start Aug. 25.

BTC is working with the Rock County Job Center, which has asked BTC to open up new sections in some of its more popular programs, such as nursing and heating/ventilation/air conditioning, Walker said.

Some classes may be held at the Job Center in Janesville, and BTC also is considering whether it should lease space elsewhere, Walker said.

One program already full is electrical power distribution, after BTC and Alliant Energy recently teamed up to add new students in that high-need area. BTC is considering whether to start new sections, however, perhaps in evening classes or next spring, Walker said.

Things are moving so fast that BTC is struggling to keep up. The Job Center is gathering information on what kinds of training people need, but until BTC has that information, it can’t respond with new sections or new programs, Walker said.

Another challenge is the diversity of new students—from those who haven’t been to school in 20 years to those with bachelor’s degrees.

“As the fall moves forward and we move toward spring registration in November, I expect we’ll have a better picture of what the demand is,” Walker said.

Walker said BTC expects the high demand for its courses will continue well past the coming school year as the flagging economy hits more local homes.

“This is not something that is going to be cured overnight, so we’re looking at a couple of years here, and who knows what faces us in the weeks ahead in regard to additional announcements,” Walker said.

BTC OPEN HOUSE

What: Open house and free picnic for transitioning workers and their families. Workshops, exhibits and activities for children are scheduled throughout the day. BTC will provide information on what job skills are expected to be in demand and what those jobs pay. Participants will be able to apply for admission to BTC at the event, or they may register for fall classes if they have been previously admitted. New applicants should bring evidence of a high school diploma and college transcripts, if available.

BTC also will provide information about programs that BTC offers, admission/registration procedures and opportunities to talk to faculty and staff.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Where: Blackhawk Technical College’s central campus, accessible from either Highway 51 or Prairie Road/County G midway between Beloit and Janesville.

Lunch details: College faculty and staff will serve a picnic lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants will be issued “passports” that will be stamped at each informational activity they attend, and passports must be shown before participants will be served. Menu will include a choice of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, macaroni salad, coleslaw, watermelon, cookies and lemonade.

Free childcare: For kids ages 1-6. Activities are planned for children ages 7-10.

Older kids: Anyone aged 10 and older may take an “EdVenture mini-course” featuring BTC’s ropes facility. The course explores communication, trust, problem solving and group dynamics.

Special assistance: People with disabilities who need accommodations or support services are asked to contact Special Services at (608) 743-4422 or (608) 757-7796 by Monday.

More activities:

-- Veterans Club representatives who will speak with veterans.

-- Displays of the latest in instructional technology.

-- Exhibits and displays by technical programs and student support groups.

-- Monroe campus representatives will speak to people who might attend that facility.

-- All college offices will be open for business.

For more information: Call the Office of Advancement at (608) 757-7774. Information about BTC also can be found at www.blackhawk.edu.