WTCS Board Approves New CVTC Programs, Facility

New degrees, diplomas focus on business and marketing

Eau Claire, WI – Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) will offer new associate degree programs in Digital Marketing and Sales Management, plus technical diplomas in Entrepreneurship and Nail Technician after winning approval from the state Wisconsin Technical College System Board Wednesday, July 13. Also approved was a 6,800 sq. ft. addition to the CVTC West Campus for the Architectural Structural Design program.

“The changes will better align CVTC’s programs with the needs of the business community,” said Lynette Livingston, CVTC’s dean of business and academic initiatives. “We conducted extensive employer surveys and interviews and researched job outlooks in an ongoing effort to keep our programs current with what is happening in the marketplace today.”

The addition of the two-year Digital Marketing associate degree program reflects a greater need in the business community for people trained in marketing through electronic and social media platforms. Topics to be covered include digital marketing analytics, search engine optimization, social media marketing, mobile marketing and promotional design. The program will be offered starting in January 2017 at the Eau Claire campus.

The two-year Sales Management associate degree program will provide students with the tools to strategically analyze and improve a sales organization. It is designed to meet the needs of existing sales professionals and aspiring managers. Coursework would include topics such as marketing research, sales promotion management, business-to-business selling, negotiation skills, customer relationships and e-commerce sales.

The Sales Management program will be offered starting in August at the Eau Claire campus.

The one-year Entrepreneurship diploma program is designed to provide students with the fundamentals to start and operate their own businesses. Coursework includes developing and evaluating business ideas, preparing a business plan, managing finances, analyzing legal issues and marketing strategies. The program will include a strong mentoring component with local seasoned entrepreneurs. It will begin in January 2017 at the Eau Claire campus.

Also, the CVTC will be adding a nine-credit Nail Technician technical diploma option beginning January 2017. The program will help meet the needs of area employers. It will be offered at the Eau Claire campus.

Also approved by the WTCS board is a 6,800 sq. ft. addition to CVTC’s West Campus in order to move the Architectural Structural Design program from the Business Education Center to the Energy Education Center, and to improve that program’s facilities. A sheet metal lab will also be constructed to support the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology program. Construction on the $1.5 million project will begin in August. Funding is through a bond issue approved by the CVTC board July 11.

Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers superior, progressive technical education which improves the lives of students, meets the workforce needs of the region, and strengthens the larger community. Campuses are located in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Neillsville and River Falls. CVTC serves an 11-county area in west central Wisconsin. CVTC is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and is one of 16 WTCS colleges located throughout the state.