{"id":3677,"date":"2016-09-29T14:27:48","date_gmt":"2016-09-29T19:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/for-wisconsin\/?post_type=campus_story&p=3677"},"modified":"2026-03-13T08:03:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:03:46","slug":"uw-oshkosh-responds-to-workforce-need-with-campaign-engineering-technology","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uw-oshkosh-responds-to-workforce-need-with-campaign-engineering-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-Oshkosh responds to workforce need with \u2018Campaign Engineering Technology\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UW-Oshkosh<\/a>
UW-Oshkosh students get hands-on experience in the engineering technology field.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In response to the region\u2019s workforce need for engineering technologists, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt announced the launch of Campaign Engineering Technology<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The campaign is a $10 million fundraising initiative to provide scholarships, internships, K-12 outreach and equipment needs to support the three bachelor\u2019s degrees in engineering technology offered at UW Oshkosh. The bachelor\u2019s degrees offered are in electrical engineering technology, environmental engineering technology and mechanical engineering technology.<\/p>\n

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\"Matt_Jameson\"<\/p>\n

Jameson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Matt Jameson \u201896, president and CEO of Jay Manufacturing Oshkosh, will serve as campaign chair.\u00a0Jameson graduated from UW Oshkosh with a bachelor\u2019s degree in education and serves on the Chancellor\u2019s Advisory Council.<\/p>\n

John Koker, dean of the UW Oshkosh College of Letters and Science, will serve as campaign co-chair.\u00a0Koker has overseen the College of Letters and Science at UW Oshkosh since 2007.<\/p>\n

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\"Koker_John_06\"<\/p>\n

Koker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI am increasingly impressed with the innovation at work between education and business here in Oshkosh,\u201d Leavitt said. \u201cUW Oshkosh and our local manufacturers are partnering in a way that\u2019s never been done before\u2014to impact workforce development in a way that\u2019s good for our students, companies and our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The engineering technology degrees, which started in 2014 at UW Oshkosh, came out of a need from local manufacturers and industry\u2014and in partnership with the Manufacturers Alliance and the Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance (NEW ERA).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis degree program, and this campaign, is a statement about how UW Oshkosh is responding to that need. People have told us this is important for their workforce, and we listened,\u201d said Greg Kleinheinz, Viessmann Chair of Sustainable Technology and director of the Engineering Technology program at UW Oshkosh.<\/p>\n

UW Oshkosh is looking for partners to support Campaign Engineering Technology<\/em>. The $10 million fundraising campaign will dedicate more than half of the funds raised, $7 million, to student scholarships. Of the remaining dollars, $2 million is earmarked for K-12 outreach, $500,000 to support student internships and $500,000 for equipment needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the most relevant and timely degree programs ever offered by UW Oshkosh,\u201d Arthur Rathjen, president of the UW Oshkosh Foundation, said. \u201cIt links the needs of our region with the creation of future talent, which will result in a powerful economic impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eighty percent of UW Oshkosh engineering technology students receive some type of financial assistance. Providing scholarships extends beyond helping the individual student, but also directly benefits the local business and local economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn investment in Campaign Engineering Technology <\/em>is an investment northeast Wisconsin,\u201d Rathjen said.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
UW-Oshkosh students work in the Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s good for companies<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The engineering technology program was born out of listening to the workforce needs of local businesses leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking for people right now; and to find those really qualified people is not an easy thing. There is a shortage,\u201d said Pete Pittner, vice president of the Sheboygan-based Miller Engineers and Scientists.<\/p>\n

Companies like Miller Engineers and Scientists rely significantly on engineering technologists, as\u00a0engineering technologists make up 50 percent of their workforce.<\/p>\n

Campaign and University leaders seek continued partnerships and collaborative opportunities that will allow students in the engineering technology program to earn hands-on education and real-world experience simultaneously\u2014making students familiar with the industry prior to entering the workforce.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good for students\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"ET2\"UW Oshkosh works with students to help find the best career match for their interests\u2014many careers and majors are unknown to students because of the unfamiliarity of an industry or job. UW Oshkosh is looking to expose students to the field of engineering technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cI chose mechanical engineering because I like to put things together; it\u2019s more hands-on,\u201d said Travis Ernst, a mechanical engineering technology student. \u201cI couldn\u2019t see myself sitting at an office and just being on a computer. I wanted to be out there actually doing things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The engineering technology program also provides unique possibilities for nontraditional students who might be working full time as applied engineers with two-year degrees. As employees look to grow in their career, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree can be a benefit for the employee and employer.<\/p>\n

Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) awarded approximately $140,000 in the form of a Fast Forward grant to UW Oshkosh to fund a cohort of engineering technology students to complete their bachelor\u2019s degree. Each of the 33 students, representing 10 regional businesses, receives a customized approach to degree completion based on his or her background and experience.<\/p>\n

Engineering technologists\u2014a community need<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"ET3\"UW Oshkosh\u2019s vision is to bring engineering technologists to local businesses will have a positive impact on the local economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are the hardest occupations to fill in northeast Wisconsin? Every year, for the last five years, based on our surveys and research with manufacturers, engineering technology is in the top five hardest to fill,\u201d said Ann Franz, NEW Manufacturing Alliance director.<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/p>\n