For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: October 10, 2025

Dual enrollment participation continues to climb

9,200 credits earned by high school students in the Southwest Tech district last year

Fennimore -

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is seeing record growth in dual enrollment programs, giving high school students the chance to earn college credit before graduation.

Dual enrollment allows students to take college-level courses that count toward both high school and college requirements. Brianna Fortney, career prep and dual enrollment coordinator at Southwest Tech, said the initiative helps students save time and money while exploring career interests early. “Dual enrollment is a really good opportunity for students to get a jump start on their future, whether that’s at Southwest Tech or another university,” said Fortney. “We’ve even had students walk across our graduation stage before they walk across their high school graduation stage.”

“I feel like I’m getting a head start and getting right out to the workforce a year sooner,” said Carter Schilling, a Mineral Point High School senior, who is enrolled in the Agricultural Power and Equipment Technician program.

“I enjoy it because I am going to college, for me, for no cost because the school is paying for it and I appreciate that a lot,” said Brady Schmitz, a Lancaster High School senior, who is in the CNC program at Southwest Tech. “I think it’s a great opportunity.”

Southwest Tech offers multiple pathways into dual enrollment:

• Start College Now and CollEDGE Up: Juniors and seniors can take courses on campus or online. Students submit an application to their school district requesting the course(s) they’d like to take. Once approved, the district pays for the course costs, such as tuition, fees, and books.

• Youth Apprenticeship: In partnership with CESA 3, youth apprenticeship is an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to explore their chosen career path while continuing to work towards high school graduation. It’s an “earn while you learn” program that combines work-based learning with related instruction. Youth apprentice students have the opportunity to earn college credits paid through the program, locally managed by CESA 3.

• Transcripted Credit: Qualified high school teachers, trained and mentored by Southwest Tech faculty, deliver college curriculum directly within their high school classrooms. This allows students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously at no cost to the student or the district.

Programs span healthcare, agriculture, IT, business management, automotive and general education courses such as psychology, sociology, English and speech. The college reports strong participation in its Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, with many students beginning their nursing careers early.

Growth has been significant. In the 2019–20 academic year, local high school students earned about 6,200 credits through Southwest Tech. By last year, that number rose to 9,200 — a 49-percent increase. Nearly three-quarters of 2024 graduates in the district completed college credits while in high school.

To ensure students choose classes aligned with their goals, Southwest Tech launched dual enrollment Student Success Plans, meeting one-on-one with sophomores and juniors to document career interests, discuss financial plans, and map out potential dual enrollment courses that align with their chosen career pathways.

Applications for Start College Now are due March 1 for upcoming fall classes and Oct. 1 for upcoming spring classes. District approval is required before registration. Youth apprenticeship enrollment is coordinated with CESA 3.

“Collaboration between our districts and CESA 3 has been key to this growth,” said Fortney. “We’re committed to helping students make intentional choices and connecting their classes to their future plans.”

Some students will advance directly into the workforce upon graduation, while others will continue onto higher education. “I’m planning to get a job in CNC,” said Ian Adams, Benton High School junior. “I plan to use the diploma that I get for this to help me find a great job.”

Cash Barker, a senior at Fennimore High School, is in the Southwest Tech welding program. “I think it’s a big game changer for high schoolers,” he said. “It just helps kids get out there sooner.

Joanne Pereira, a junior at Lancaster High School, has her sights set on becoming a doctor. She is currently taking the EMT 1 course through Southwest Tech at the Lancaster EMS facility. “When you hear about this dual credit, any program where you can start college early, take it,” she said. “It will help you get your gen eds done and get you a head start with what you want to do.”

Eden Richter is a senior at Fennimore High School. She started taking dual credit courses prior to her sophomore year and has earned more than 30 college credits. “The instructors are very engaging and have helped me significantly to better understand things,” she said.

Richter plans to finish her Liberal Arts degree at Southwest Tech, before transferring to a four-year university to major in social work and a minor in psychology. She would eventually like to work as a licensed clinical social worker.

Learn more about Dual Credit.

| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. The college was recently named the winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |