Chippewa Valley Technical College

Overview

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, serves a diverse 11-county area providing programs across multiple campuses. CVTC’s 129 programs include certificate, associate degree, and apprenticeship-related educational offerings.

The Challenge

Despite its mission of empowering students with flexible, innovative education, the college faced challenges with inconsistent and outdated syllabi due to faculty using a variety of tools to create them. Without a standardized approach, it became challenging to ensure students were always receiving accurate, up-to-date course details. CVTC recognized the need for a more streamlined system that would guarantee consistent, high-quality syllabi across all programs.

The WIDS Solution

CVTC adopted WIDS as the sole tool for syllabus creation to resolve issues with inconsistent and outdated syllabi. Collaborating with WIDS, CVTC customized a syllabus template tailored to their specific needs.

"We took advantage of the WIDS Guideline Library to set up standard syllabus guidelines for program areas on a variety of topics, from safety to assignment submissions,"

explained Meyhlou Humblet, Curriculum Systems Specialist.

"When faculty create the syllabus, their program guidelines are easily accessible—and correct!"  

CVTC developed college-wide policies to be included in every syllabus. The policies and guidelines are updated annually with the student handbook to ensure faculty and students have the most current information.

"We update the guidelines in one location in WIDS and Boom! Next semester the syllabi include all the updated language," said Rachelle Phakitthong, Senior Director of Curriculum and Assessment. 

WIDS’s user-friendly interface required little training, making it easy for faculty to adopt. It was introduced during onboarding and in-service sessions for a smooth transition. By standardizing the syllabus format and requiring all faculty to use WIDS, CVTC ensured consistency and adherence to approved course information and guidelines.

The Result

WIDS implementation at CVTC streamlined syllabus creation and ensured all syllabi are archived for future access. Once submitted, syllabi are permanently stored in WIDS, allowing easy access from any past semester or year. 

"I use the WIDS reports to track syllabus submission. Currently, 97% of faculty have their syllabi in WIDS," said Humblet.

This high compliance ensures students consistently receive accurate, up-to-date course information, and the standardized WIDS format has improved their experience,

"There is so much to navigate in higher education for students. But the WIDS standard syllabus layout makes it easier for them. We want it to be easy for them. I believe that consistency is important for our students," adds Phakitthong.

By simplifying the process for faculty and enhancing the clarity and accessibility of syllabi for students, WIDS has become an essential tool in supporting CVTC’s mission of delivering high-quality education.