When it comes to student success, NWTC has set the standard for the state’s technical colleges. In 2010, NWTC was the first college in Wisconsin to join Achieving the Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to helping community college students succeed. Under the leadership of our president, Dr. Rafn, student success has become the center of our work. As a result, NWTC has been named a Leader College by Achieving the Dream for student success initiatives and one of four finalists for the AACC Awards of Excellence in the Student Success category.

In 2017, the College was selected to join Frontier Set, a diverse group of high-performing, high-potential postsecondary institutions identified by the Gates Foundation as leaders in transformation.

WORKING AT NWTC

NWTC offers the opportunity to work in a professional and stimulating environment where the intended culture of inclusion and a holistic view of the employee is promoted.  We empower employees to be their best selves and contribute to a culture of engagement and innovation.  We are committed to promoting a learning environment where employees and students of differing perspectives and cultural backgrounds pursue career and academic goals embraced in an environment of respect and shared inquiry.  Benefits of working at NWTC are measurable in ways such as greater knowledge and awareness of cultural differences, motivation for improved personal and professional relationships and a cohesive work environment. We provide our employees with a high-quality compensation and benefits package and professional development opportunities.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) PROFILE:  NWTC

At NWTC, we believe everyone has worth. We are not limited to age, gender, social status, and religion. We are unified in dignity and diversity.

We believe everyone — no matter where they are in their personal and professional journeys — can dream big and rise above their current places.

"We believe everyone can soar higher. The fact of the matter is, everyone has different needs.  Out college must think about what our people need, and how are we going to meet those needs.  That’s when we start to talk about equity."  - Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn, NWTC President

The Division of DEI fosters a culture of equity and inclusivity by providing leadership and procedural structure to ensure that all members of NWTC can engage in academic pursuits, obtain and maintain employment, and utilize college services without experiencing discrimination. The function of the College’s Diversity Team is to serve as the key voice for the Division of DEI to advocate for and support an inclusive culture while enforcing accountability around the College’s Strategic Directions.  The College has four focused areas that various strategic practices, initiatives, and goals fall under.

1. Institutional Climate
   • Supports and monitors strategic college wide indicators and standards.
2. Workforce
   • The focus is recruitment and retention of employees of a workforce.
3. Education
   • Develops, guide and evaluate educational opportunities for students and employees.
4. Student Success  
   • The focus is to enhance services and programs for the recruitment and retention of students.

CULTIVATING AN INCLUSIVE COLLEGE

iRespect

iRespect! is a college-wide movement to cultivate a welcoming and safe environment for all. 

• We stand beside our students regardless of race, religion, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, ability, and age.
• We are committed to maintaining a welcoming and safe space for all members of our community to work and learn.
• We maintain a zero tolerance policy for discrimination, bullying, and behaviors intended to intimidate or demoralize members of this community.

Whether you are a student or employee, there are many opportunities for you to get involved with iRespect! 

Diversity and Inclusion Education – Inclusively Course Series

Walk into any lab, classroom, or office at NWTC, and it’s clear we love what we do. We understand how we impact the lives of our students and communities, and we thrive on that responsibility. Through the employee Inclusively Course Series, you can enhance your work at the College and increase your positive impact on students. You’ll gain tools and knowledge to help individuals from all walks of life discover and develop their unique gifts and talents.

Living Inclusively: The purpose is to develop the knowledge, skills, process, and understanding of culture and how it relates to personal and societal history, social perception and influence, personal values, beliefs, biases, societal structure, local and global societies, cultural practices, and functions and trends. All employees are required to take this course.

Teaching Inclusively: The purpose is to develop materials and strategies for ensuring that their classrooms are inclusive and engage all students, especially students of color. All benefit eligible faculty are required to take this course.

Serving Inclusively: The purpose is to develop policies and skills for ensuring that the campus environment is inclusive and engages all community members. All benefit eligible staff will be required to take this course.

Managing Inclusively: The purpose is to continue building upon the understanding of equity and inclusion and to begin applying this knowledge within a supervisor/leader role. Key components of the curriculum include: leading a multicultural environment; developing strategies for managing conflict; demographic data, student/alumni feedback, identity and bias, highlights from Teaching Inclusively and Serving Inclusively, and a capstone

To learn more, our A Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at NWTC highlights various strategic practices, initiatives, and goals that support diversity and inclusion at the College.