Lakeland officially opens new Fox Cities Center location
APPLETON, Wis. ā 51ĀŅĀ× officially unveiled its new Fox Cities Center location at Fox Valley Technical College Wednesday with an Open House and ribbon cutting.
This summer, Lakeland relocated its Fox Cities Center to FVTCās Appleton campus, 1825 N Bluemound Dr. Lakeland is located just inside Entrance 15 and occupies a space that includes an office presence and access to several classrooms during the spring, fall and summer semesters.
āThis move for Lakeland makes so much sense,ā said Lakeland President Beth Borgen, noting that Lakeland has offered classes in the Fox Cities since 1982. āMore than a third of the students that Lakeland serves in the Fox Cities are FVTC graduates. And now theyāll be able to continue on the pathway to a bachelorās degree at a campus that already feels like home.ā
FVTC President Chris Matheny said Lakelandās move is the latest chapter in the two schoolsā long history of providing innovative educational opportunities to students in the region.
āOur graduates from Fox Valley Tech have long been welcomed with open arms at 51ĀŅĀ×,ā said Matheny, who presented Borgen with an oversize key made by Jim Kitchen, the department chair of FVTCās Machine Tool Technology, and some of his students.
āWith Lakeland being a top transfer destination, it made sense for us to explore how to make it even easier for our grads to continue their education. FVTC students will now be able to connect with ā and explore ā baccalaureate degree options without having to leave our Appleton campus.ā
Earlier this year, Lakeland and FVTC signed an agreement that creates a pathway for students who earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in Liberal Arts at FVTC to transfer to Lakeland. FVTC is awaiting approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the two-year A.A. and A.S. degrees.
Students who earn one of the two FVTC degrees will be able to transfer to Lakeland with junior standing and apply all their credits toward a Lakeland bachelorās degree.
āOnce approved, this agreement will only make the FVTC to 51ĀŅĀ× pathway more direct and more manageable to navigate,ā Matheny said. āThey will have convenient access to their FVTC advisors and Lakeland faculty and staff who can help coordinate an educational journey that fits them best.ā
Borgen said students and communities in the region are the big winners when institutions of higher learning form partnerships.
āItās exciting to see private and public institutions working together for the common good of helping our students achieve their educational goals while aligning with regional workforce development needs,ā she said. āThis new level of access benefits students and their families, local schools and communities in this region.ā
Lakeland offers more than a dozen bachelorās degree programs and four masterās degree programs in the Fox Cities. Many degrees and classes are available online or through Lakelandās popular and innovative BlendEdĀ® format, which allows students to decide week-to-week if they want to attend class in person or online.
Any FVTC graduate who enrolls in a bachelor's degree program with Lakeland will receive a 20% tuition discount.
Lakelandās Kellett School of Undergraduate & Graduate Studies was created in 1978 when Lakeland developed what was the stateās first evening degree-completion program for working adults. The program was based on the vision of prominent Wisconsin business leader and former Lakeland Trustee William R. Kellett.
Since its creation, Lakeland has seen thousands of adults earn baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Lakeland also has centers in Chippewa Falls, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Rapids and on Lakelandās main campus in Sheboygan County.
