Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public technical school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. There are four campuses in the town of Eau Claire (Gateway, Clairemont, and West) and regional learning centers in Menomonie, Neillsville, River Falls, and Chippewa Falls. In all, Chippewa Valley serves an area that encompasses 16 counties with over 6,500 students enrolled in degree and certificate programs, and roughly another 16,000 in continuing education programs.The school’s mission states that “Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers superior, progressive technical education which improves the lives of students, meets the workforce needs of the region, and strengthens the larger community.”
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Academics
Educational Divisions
Educational divisions at Chippewa Valley are organized into career clusters. The Career clusters are: Agricultural Food and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Business, Finance, and Marketing; Health Services; Human Services; Law, Public Safety, and Security; Manufacturing; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Information Technology; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
Learning Modalities
There are several different kinds of classes at Eau Claire to suit different styles of learning, student schedules, and preferences. These include online classes, in which students discuss class material, submit assignments, and meet with faculty—all online with minimal face-to-face contact; hybrid classes, in which students blend online learning with personal session; web conferencing, in which students watch and listen to a lecture online; and open lab, in which students may work on-campus with in-person support, but at their own rate and with a great deal of flexibility.
Offerings of the Different Campuses
The Clairemont campus houses the health and business programs and also offers welding and automotive classes. The Gateway campus is the hub for manufacturing technology. It contains the NanoRite Innovation Center and the Manufacturing Education Center. The Eau Claire West campus houses the Transportation Education Center and Emergency Service Education Center, offering programs such as Criminal Justice, Truck Driving, and FireMedic.
Transfer Agreements
Many students go on from Chippewa Valley to earn four-year degrees at institutions in the area. Chippewa Valley has transfer agreements with Capella University, Cardinal Stritch, Concordia University, Globe University, Marian College, University of Minnesota, Viterbo University, Winona State, and several University of Wisconsin campuses, including Stout, Stevens Point, River Falls, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse, Green Bay, and Eau Claire.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Apprenticeships play a key role in the education of many Chippewa Valley students. The college partners with employers who offer on-the-job training and the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. Most apprenticeships vary in length from two to five years. Apprentices are paid a portion of the rate they can expect to earn after finishing their programs.
Trades with apprenticeship programs facilitated through Chippewa Valley include:
Barber-Cosmetologist
Bricklayer
Carpenter
Child Care Development Specialist
Cook/Chef
Correctional Officer
Electrical and Instrumentation Technician
Construction Electrician
Environmental Service Technician
HVAC Installer Technician
Industrial (Maintenance) Pipefitter
Injection Molding Machine Setter (Plastic)
Millwright
Metal Fabricator
Heavy Equipment Operator
Roofer
Sheet Metal Worker
Steamfitter
Tool and Die Maker
In apprenticeship agreements, the employer is responsible to provide safe and adequate facilities for on-the-job training; qualified personnel to teach the apprentice; appropriate supervision; and wages for time spent in related instruction. The apprentice is responsible to be a reliable and responsible employee, work diligently throughout the apprenticeship, and complete all related instruction work as assigned by the classroom instructor. Normally, apprentices attend classes twice a month for 8 hours per session.
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Admissions
In keeping with their mission to provide educational opportunities to all adults in their catchment area who wish to pursue them, Chippewa Valley features open admissions. Some specific programs have further requirements; check with the department in which you wish to study. All students in any program must take a COMPASS pre-entry assessment before registering in the program of their choice.
Financial Aid
In addition to the wide range of state and financial options open to any college or university student in Wisconsin, Chippewa Valley offers several of their own need- and merit-based scholarships.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Chippewa Valley Technical College 4374th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Wisconsin scholarships and financial aid
The Valley Café, located at the Eau Claire Business Education Center on the Clairemont campus, offers standard cafeteria fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also vending machines on all campuses and at most learning centers.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Chippewa Valley Technical College?
Eau Claire is a small city in west-central Wisconsin. It has been named both one of the best communities for young people and a Tree City in recent years. Outdoor recreation is a large part of life in Eau Claire, with many opportunities for biking, hiking, golfing, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The Chippewa River State Trail follows the lower course of the Chippewa River from Eau Claire. There is also an indoor ice center with a figure skating club and an Olympic-sized public pool in the town.
The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Immanuel Lutheran College, and a branch campus of Globe University Minnesota School of Business are all located in Eau Claire as well, creating a college-town atmosphere rich in affordable restaurants, bars, clubs, and other amenities for students. There are also several vineyards in the Eau Claire area.
Local Music
The Amble Down record label in Eau Claire produces albums by local bands. There is a thriving indie rock, hip hop, and jazz scene in the area. There is a nationally-known jazz festival in the city every year.
Local Employers
There is a thriving computer hardware industry in Eau Claire, including such companies as Hutchinson Technology and IDEXX Computer Systems. Other companies headquartered in Eau Claire which hire many Chippewa Valley graduates include Menards, Cascades Tissue Group, National Presto Industries, Midwest Manufacturer, Erbert & Gerbert’s, and Open-Silicon.
Transportation
There is a local bus company providing transportation within the area and a regional airport just outside of town.
Bibliography
Campus Information. About. Chippewa Valley Technical College. Web. 27 July 2011.
Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.
Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You. New York: Penguin. 2007. Print.
Transfer Center. Admissions Registration. Chippewa Valley Technical College. Web. 27 July 2011.
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Eau Claire, WI 54701-6162
Surrounding community
Small city (inside urban area, pop. under 100,000)
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Eau Claire, WI 54701-6162
p. 715-833-6200
w. www.cvtc.edu