Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom.

Officials say it could help produce a more robust pipeline of workers in the Badger State.

Layla Merrifield, president of the Wisconsin Technical Colleges System, said manufacturers are making it clear they want a workforce with the know-how in programming and operating machinery fitted with AI, which is why the system is integrating it with coursework at regional campuses.

"Here in Wisconsin, we have a structural workforce shortage and our demographics are telling us that will continue," Merrifield pointed out. "What we're seeing, it's really upscaling the workforce."

Elected officials face pressure to adopt regulations to ensure artificial intelligence is used safely. Merrifield noted schools in Wisconsin prioritize teaching students how to use AI ethically and appropriately. An analysis from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology said community and technical colleges have the potential to grow and sustain the AI talent pool but barriers like inconsistent government funding need to be addressed.

Merrifield acknowledged Wisconsin's campuses are coming off modest general aid increases from the Legislature and will request more in the next budget cycle, noting the programs technical schools offer can be costly to maintain. They also have to balance tuition affordability.

"We understand that our students often come from limited means. They have limited financial resources," Merrifield stressed. "We try to keep tuition as low as possible."

Whether it's AI curriculum or other courses, Merrifield suggested they need the right amount of support to stay nimble and retool programming based on workforce trends. Waukesha County Technical College is one of the schools offering a class where students learn about the foundations of AI.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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Indiana families see value in higher education, but many are still confused about how to pay for it.

A new survey by INvestEd, a nonprofit based in the state, shows 83% of Hoosiers believe in the importance of postsecondary education.

However, concerns about student loan debt and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, leave some hesitant.

INvestEd Vice President of Marketing Bill Wozniak said families often feel overwhelmed navigating financial aid.

"That confusion really leads people to often walk away from post-secondary education all together," said Wozniak, "or sometimes, make bad choices and over-borrow."

Indiana recently improved FAFSA completion rates despite national challenges. Updates to the application caused delays, but Wozniak said the process has greatly improved this year.

The priority deadline for filing is April 15, 2025.

According to Wozniak, families must act quickly to access key programs like the Frank O'Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholars program.

"Glitches and problems could be ironed out for the most part before the new year began," said Wozniak. "And we are very happy to report that the form is performing extremely well."

INvestEd provides free support to students and families through 900 events each year, plus online and phone help. Officials emphasize that higher education is attainable with the right guidance.

For more information, visit investedindiana.org or call 317-715-9007.



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Students at eight Arkansas community colleges can benefit from new micro-courses to prepare for the workforce.

The schools are collaborating with the Education Design Lab to create a curriculum of credentialing classes, or micro-pathways, which when combined, prepare a student for a job at or above the local median wage.

Lucas Paxton, director of digital learning at Northwest Arkansas Community College, said they are getting input from employers and community leaders to ensure students have the skills needed for available positions.

"We're seeing a transition to less need for the bachelor's degree, less need for the associate degree," Paxton observed. "They want that targeted training that's specific to the job that they have available. And so, these micro-credentials will give a quicker, less expensive pathway to those jobs."

He pointed out students can complete the credentials in less than a year, saving them time and money.

Other colleges participating in the collaboration include South Arkansas College, Arkansas State University in Newport and University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. Credits for credentials earned at one college can be transferred to other schools in the group.

Paxton emphasized the program enhances the relationship between schools.

"I would like to see us collaborate a lot more," Paxton added. "I think that will just benefit all of our students because they can go to different institutions with these micro-credentials, and they'll be immediately recognized."

Credit for earned credentials can also go toward an associate degree. Other schools participating include Arkansas State University Three Rivers, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, East Arkansas Community College and North Arkansas College.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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After a new union at Miami University was certified by the state in June 2023, its members are still waiting for an initial contract.

The Faculty Alliance of Miami represents tenured and tenure-track faculty and librarians at the university in Oxford. Today marks 463 days the union has been without a contract. Negotiators said they are focused primarily on job security, academic freedom for librarians and fair compensation.

Rachel Makarowski, special collections librarian and a negotiation team member for the union, said the annual cost-of-living raises the university is offering "would make living in Oxford untenable."

"We are really feeling that kind of tight pressure on our wallets," Makarowski acknowledged. "As well as the fact that they're devaluing us and our labor that is what makes the university work."

A university representative said it has been working "in good faith" and has made 11 tentative agreements with the union. Makarowski countered the university has been using stall tactics to delay finalizing an agreement.

Miami University is the largest employer in Butler County. Oxford is a town of about 22,000, where Makarowski pointed out its union members make up a significant group of residents.

"The faculty and the librarians at a university are really going to be influential on the local economy, on the local programming, et cetera," Makarowski explained. "All of us will really feel when we get a good contract but they'll also feel it if we get a bad contract."

On the most recent bargaining days, according to the union's website, the union has reached tentative agreements around grievance and arbitration, discipline and discharge, the promotion process and enhanced funds for publication and other costs for scholarly work.


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