SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Earlier this week, Lakeland College and Lakeshore Technical College announced they will begin a new transfer program between the two.
The Lake to Lake program will allow students who are trying to earn one of 17 associates degrees at Lakeshore Technical College the option to transfer easily to Lakeland College to earn one of nine bachelors’ degrees if they so choose.
LTC President Mike Lanser says the new program will strengthen what has been a strong cooperation between the two local post-secondary education offerings. "We’ve always had students that have graduated from LTC and went to Lakeland, and this will make it little bit easier and a little bit more seamless."
Lanser says he typically talks with Lakeland College President Daniel Eck on a regular basis, and it was during these discussions that the idea for a transfer program came about.
After a year of discussions with each institution's academic leaders, the match of programs at LTC to Lakeland class offerings led to this week's announcement. Lanser says each entity will work to help students in the program make sure they are taking the right classes.
“We’re hoping that people see this as an opportunity and a value for them to get a great education in a great community," says Lanser.
Lakeland College’s Director of External Relations David Gallianetti says students who join will be given special offers to ensure LTC students feel like they are already a Musky. "We’re going to offer athletic passes, invitations to our homecoming celebrations. We have Colloquium programs where we bring really accomplished business or science alumnus back to campus to speak to our current students."
There is already a new scholarship being offered for future students in the program that qualify to apply, and there could be some help for LTC students who need a place to live. “For any LTC students that have an interest in living on campus for that traditional residential experience; if we have some room, and there’s some interest, we’re going to explore having LTC students live on Lakeland’s campus while their attending LTC," says Gallianetti.
Gallianetti says between 75 and 80 students from Lakeshore Technical College transfer to their university each year. He hopes a new transfer partnership between the two will increase that number.
Sign up for the Lake to Lake program will start for students joining LTC in the fall of 2016