Performance Excellence and Accreditation | Western Technical College

Performance Excellence and Accreditation

Western uses a leadership and performance excellence model that integrates the mission, vision, and values; the strategic goals measured through Key Results; the Malcolm Baldrige Framework for Performance Excellence; and the Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The College incorporates cycles of Plan, Do, Check, Adjust (PDCA) as the foundation for performance excellence efforts. Using the Baldrige framework to increase organizational learning has improved Western’s ability to function more effectively as a system. The Key Results are used to track performance relative to strategic goals. This has strengthened Western’s ability to collect, analyze, and share data to make informed decisions. Identifying key college processes related to the achievement of strategic goals has fostered a college-wide awareness of process management.

Western Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Aligning the re-accreditation process with Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and performance excellence efforts has enhanced Western’s ability to develop programs and services designed to help students learn and succeed. Western is committed to ongoing organizational learning and improvement to meet the evolving needs of all students. A number of Western’s academic programs also hold accreditations from national professional organizations.

What does it mean to be an accredited college?

  • Quality: Accreditation means that a college meets standards of quality for administration, faculty, curriculum, library, financial management, and student services.
  • Financial Aid: Students can only obtain federal financial assistance if their college has appropriate accreditation from an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
  • Transfer Credits: If students want to transfer college credits to continue their education, accreditation is an important factor when a college is deciding whether to accept transfer credits from the student’s previous school.

Core Team Members

  • Eric Jacobson – Public Affairs Specialist, Marketing, Communications, and Legislative Advocacy
  • Wade Hackbarth – Vice President, Finance and Operations 
  • Rebecca Hopkins – Dean, Academic Excellence, Education, and Human Services  
  • Nicole Cooksey – Curriculum Coordinator, Academic Excellence, Education, and Human Services  
  • Peggy Vogel – Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Academic Excellence, Education, and Human Services  
  • Amanda Misch – Employment Coordinator, Human Resources
  • Sheila Rhodes – Scheduler, Institutional Effectiveness
  • Sarah Lennon – Business Intelligence Analyst, Institutional Effectiveness
  • Kira Guetschow – Research Analyst, Institutional Effectiveness  
  • Katie Mauss – Institutional Effectiveness Specialist, Institutional Effectiveness  
  • Brianne Shane – Director, Institutional Research, Institutional Effectiveness  
  • Tracy Dryden – Chief of Staff and Excellence 

Criteria for Accreditation

HLC's Criteria

Criterion 1: Mission

The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

Criterion 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support

The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.

Criterion 4: Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

Criterion 5: Institutional Effectiveness: Resources and Planning

The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Statement of Affiliation

Program Accreditation

Western Technical College is one of 16 Wisconsin technical colleges that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System. Western is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Western is also a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Technical Education Association, and the American Vocational Association.

View our program accreditation listing

Distance Education Authorization

NC-SARAWestern Technical College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs.

Visit our State Authorization page or www.nc-sara.org to learn more.