MIHS students trying out NWTC program

Thirteen Menominee Indian High School seniors will be prepping for college in a new way this fall. The 4x4 pilot program is a partnership between the Menominee Indian School District and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. During the 2014-2015 school year, the seniors involved in the program will attend MIHS in the morning and the NWTC Shawano campus in the afternoon. “Students will take one general studies course at a time, and the course will be completed at the end of four weeks,” said Kate Mikle, Menominee model coordinator. “By focusing on one class, students will be exposed to the concept of college. Students will take six general studies courses and at the end of the program will complete a total of 18 credits that can be transferred to another technical college or university as they transition into their first year of post-secondary education.” The students, who have to meet a set of criteria to participate in the program, will be supported by tutors, instructors and MIHS staff, and have access to all services at the NWTC campus. “We want to make this a collaborative, hands-on learning experience that will prepare our students for success,” Mikle said. “That’s why we’re integrating guest speakers and area business tours into the curriculum so students can apply what they are learning to a real-life example.” NWTC and other campuses participated in a 4x4 pilot program in 2012 and introduced it at the Shawano campus last year as a way to help high school graduates transition to college life. Instead of the traditional juggling of several classes that meet two or three times a week over a four-month period, students can take courses through the 4x4 system in which they go to one class for four days a week over a four-week period, spending three hours each day learning one general studies subject. “We’re excited for this opportunity for our students as it’s a chance for them to get a taste of the college setting before they finish high school,” MISD Superintendent Wendell Waukau said. “It’s a positive experience, and we’re happy for this partnership that allows our students to start earning their degrees one class at a time.”