- Certificate for Nonprofit Professionals strengthens leadership and management skills of nonprofit practitioners
Nonprofit organizations represent one of the fastest growing sectors of the American economy, currently 7% of the total workforce. In Wisconsin, nonprofits have become the state's fifth largest employer. To respond to this increase, the UW-Green Bay Division of Outreach developed a certificate program for nonprofit practitioners in 2002. It emphasizes business and management principles that can improve the efficiency of nonprofit organizations. Through January 2004, the Certificate for Nonprofit Professionals workshops had enlisted a total of 76 participants. The additional training they received helps these professionals become more effective within their organizations, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in Wisconsin.
- Child-care professionals keep up with best practices through annual training
Child-care providers who attended the annual Current Issues in Infant/Toddler Development and Care Conference sponsored by UW-Green Bay Outreach and the UW-Extension said the program increased their understanding of age-appropriate activities to stimulate the development of infants and toddlers, the overweight child, and gender stereotypes. Quality child care helps families, too, by providing a safe, healthy and nurturing learning environment.
- College Credit in the high school classroom benefits students and schools
more than 6300 high school students have gotten a head start on their college degrees. The program provides opportunities for academically qualified students to receive credit for completing coursework that’s likely not available to them in their high schools. In a survey of participants from 2005, 100 percent of respondents reported that their CCIHS experience positively affected their later achievement in college. School districts benefit, too, by receiving university support in their talented and gifted programs.
- Green Bay area agencies team up to promote school success among Latino and Native American youth
A year-long UW-Green Bay initiative encouraged area Latino, Oneida, and Menominee teens to succeed in school and to plan for their academic futures. The Green Bay School District, the Oneida Youth Educational Services (YES) Program, and the College of Menominee Nation, teamed up to create two distinct programs appropriate to the needs of each student group. As a result, 90 percent of participating Latino youth say they are likely to attend college or technical school after high school, representing a 30 percent increase from student plans before the project. Menominee and Oneida teens were also inspired by the project, and important connections between the university and tribal officials were established that will help teens meet their higher education goals.
- Leadership Development Institute Fills a Need for Leadership Training in the Green Bay Area
When businesses, non-profits, and governmental organizations in the Green Bay area needed leadership training for their mid-level employees, they turned to UW-Green Bay Outreach and Extension to develop a program tailored to local needs and issues. Participants in UW-Green Bay¿s Leadership Development Program say the professional relationships they developed with program staff, facilitators, and peers were invaluable as the eight-month program groomed them to excel as leaders in their respective organizations. As part of the program, each created a customized leadership action plan that makes the most of his or her individual strengths and best meets the needs of their respective employers.
- Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute provides training and skills to run local governments efficiently and effectively
Keeping up with thousands of laws and processes is not easy for the clerks and treasurers in Wisconsin's municipalities. The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute sponsored by University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Office of Outreach and Extension provides training in leadership and administrative, technical and financial management that helps participants work more effectively with village, town, and city boards; communicate with citizens; and establish policies that use local resources wisely. The program also helps participants build a professional network for continued learning and support.
- RNs earn their baccalaureate degree @ home
Ten years after launching its first online class, the BSN@HOME program has awarded baccalaureate degrees to 445 registered nurses. Participants choose the program—offered specifically for Wisconsin nurses through the combined resources of five University of Wisconsin nursing schools—because they like the flexibility it affords them. Learning online allows them to get their degrees without disrupting their work or family lives. Furthermore, graduates of BSN@HOME say the program prepares them to advance in their careers. Many alumnae have either completed, begun or plan to enroll in a graduate nursing program.
- Small Business Development Center state network counseling services retain and develop Wisconsin’s businesses
The UW-Extension Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network provides one-to-one business counseling to help entrepreneurs and established businesses become more profitable, retain jobs and better compete in today's global market. Businesses receiving SBDC counseling increased sales by $113 million incrementally, created 1452 new jobs and retained 601. These businesses generated $ 4.6 million in state tax revenues, and obtained $1.7 million in financing, according to a recent survey.
- Social workers in northeastern Wisconsin meet certification requirements while learning how to better support their clients
A 1999 change in certification policy created a need for increased professional development opportunities for Wisconsin social workers. Since then, a workshop series in northeastern Wisconsin that was designed to fulfill this new demand has logged more than 5000 enrollments. Social workers who attended one recent workshop on women and alcohol say the program not only met their training requirements but also helped them to support their clients. The ongoing series is a collaborative effort between the social work and outreach departments at the UW-Oshkosh and the UW-Green Bay.
- Young professionals pitch in to create Downtown H.Y.P.E.! in Green Bay
Revitalizing downtown Green Bay got a boost from more than 75 young professionals who live and work in the area by engaging them in research. Their observations not only influenced the way local administrators and developers envision future projects but also helped the young participants see their city in a new way. And downtown merchants altered their marketing plans after seeing the young professionals’ perceptions. The program has gained the attention of other cities, as urban centers struggle to remain economically healthy.
