Lakeshore Technical College Expands College Here & Now to Include Kiel and Sheboygan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/02/2020

CLEVELAND, WI —

The new academic year brought a new game-changing opportunity to Kiel High School (KHS) students interested in an information technology (IT) career: College Here & Now.

The Kiel Area School District is the second district to partner with Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) and offer the nationally recognized program. College Here & Now offers KHS students the ability to earn a technical diploma in IT by the time they complete high school, without ever leaving their high school, and with zero tuition costs to students and their families.

IT was chosen as the first program at Kiel for three reasons, according to LTC Dean of Business and Technology Douglas Hamm.

“First, we know from our market research that IT professionals are in high demand among local businesses in all sectors,” explained Hamm. “Second, an IT education will provide students the opportunity to be part of a high-paying field. Lastly, due to the success we were seeing with College Here & Now at Sheboygan North and South high schools, we knew we could replicate the program at Kiel while customizing it to fit the specific needs of a smaller, rural school.”

Kiel enrolled 21 students in College Here & Now with the opportunity to earn a technical diploma in Information Technology-Web Development Specialist. This is a 22-credit program that typically takes students attending LTC two terms to complete.

Despite current COVID challenges every high school is facing, Hamm says Kiel students are doing very well. The first course students took was Web Development I which is an introduction to web page design principles and the process involved in creating visually appealing designs for the web. Students gained hands-on coding experience and published their sites.

“We are thrilled with our partnership. Kiel High School students have access to high quality, college-level instruction as well as incredible academic and technical support from LTC's staff,” said KHS Principal Eric Ward. “Students are highly engaged as they develop the skills to a viable career path while still in high school. It has been an outstanding first year,” Ward added.

College Here & Now students in Sheboygan, the district where the program launched in fall of 2019, have the opportunity to earn an associate degree in Information Technology–Web and Software Developer, a 60-credit program that typically takes LTC students four terms to complete. Sheboygan students may graduate from high school with their diploma and associate degree. There are 86 students enrolled, with 17 returning from last year.

When asked by Hamm whether returning students were glad they chose to participate in College Here & Now at Sheboygan, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “It has given me a chance to see what this field is going to be, and that I do like and enjoy it,” replied Collin Reinemann, a senior at Sheboygan South.

Students in both districts can start their College Here & Now coursework during any year in high school. Upon graduation from high school and earning, at minimum the technical diploma, students entering the regional workforce as web developers can expect a median annual salary of $45,300. Students can also choose to continue their IT education path.

For Kiel students, their LTC credits count toward an associate degree in IT-Web and Software Developer, setting them up to complete that degree in just one additional year at LTC. For Sheboygan students and any LTC graduate of the IT-Web and Software Developer program, the LTC credits transfer to program partner Lakeland University when students enter Lakeland’s computer science bachelor’s degree program. These students are guaranteed junior status in Lakeland’s program, leading Sheboygan students to complete their bachelor’s degree in as few as two years after high school, and Kiel students in three.

For more information on College Here & Now at Kiel or Sheboygan, students or parents can contact the counselors at their high school.

For details on IT programs offered at LTC, visit gotoltc.edu/academics/degree-programs.

Lakeshore Technical College launched its College Here & Now program at Kiel High School this fall. Students have the opportunity to earn a technical diploma in Information Technology-Web Development Specialist without leaving their high school.