Wisconsin Vocational Education

Wisconsin Statehood

May 29, 1848

Changing Industry

Jan 1, 1890

Dr. Charles McCarthy - Father of WTCS

Jan 1, 1901

The Wisconsin Idea
by Charles McCarthy
1912 "If I show a certain spirit now and then which may seem to cloud my judgment as to certain matters herein contained, I crave the reader's pardon on the score that I, a wandering student, seeking knowledge, came knocking at the gates of the great University of Wisconsin, and it took me in, filled me with inspiration, and when I left its doors the kindly people of the state stretched out welcoming hands and gave me a man's work to do."

Milwaukee School of Trades Creation

Jan 1, 1906

WTCS State Board Meets

Sep 1, 1911

Smith Hughes Act

Jan 1, 1917

Promoted vocational schools

Great Depression

Jan 1, 1930

Tighter Teacher Certifications

Increased Adult Education Demand

Jan 1, 1937

Increase in Associate Degrees

Gov Gaylord Nelson

Jan 1, 1960

State Aid & Educational Reimbursement

Council for Higher Education

Jan 1, 1962

VEA

Jan 1, 1963

Vocational Education Act

TRANSFER PROGRAMS

Jan 1, 1966

College Parallel & Transfer Programs Devloped

VTAE

Jan 1, 1970

Students Pay Tuition

Vocational Program Evaluations

Jan 1, 1975

Enrollments

Jan 1, 1982

doubled between 1967-1982

Tech Company Boom

Jan 1, 1990

Vocational Colleges Changing to Adapt

Technical College System

Jan 1, 1993

VTAE Renamed

100 Years

Sep 1, 2012

Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges are on the brink of their 100 year anniversary. Just as Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges are recognized nationally as leaders among the community and technical colleges — since our beginning — Wisconsin led the rest of the nation in developing a system for technical and occupational education!