Wisconsin Technical College System - Systemwide Dental Program

Overview

To improve oral health in Wisconsin, state legislators created a new law authorizing Expanded Function Dental Auxiliaries (EFDA) within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). The new program is designed to upskill dental assistants so they can fill a worker shortage gap by performing dental care beyond their traditional scope. EFDAs can perform procedures, such as restorative services, freeing up dentists to see more patients. This results in reduced patient scheduling issues and waiting times. Many technical colleges in WI were interested in providing the training, however, they needed to develop curriculum. The WTCS turned to WIDS for the curriculum design.

The Challenge

Creating the new EFDA educational program presented numerous challenges, from designing the curriculum to ensuring the new curriculum reflected the program’s overarching goals. In addition, the program needed to conform to WTCS aligned curriculum standards. Dani Cook, WTCS Director for Health Sciences said,

“We wanted the new EFDA program to be aligned among the colleges—to stay on course with the other aligned programs we had already developed.”

The WIDS Solution

Because WIDS had previously worked with WTCS colleges to design a Dental Assistant and Dental Hygiene program, WTCS determined they were a natural fit for the project. WIDS began by convening a team of faculty from thirteen WTCS colleges to facilitate collaboration for the program design, develop course outcome summaries, and ensure the curriculum met state alignment standards. This process ensured that students across the state will be consistently trained to perform advanced functions. WIDS then developed the curriculum using the WIDS software functions and posted the courses to a state WIDS site for all WTCS colleges to access.  

According to Dani, “WIDS makes it very easy. Their process runs so smoothly. Since their process is clearly defined, we always know what we are going to get in the end. Also, it helps having an independent person facilitate the process. They can focus on the deliverables, and the faculty can focus on content.”

The Result

Through their partnership with WIDS, WTCS developed 11-credit advanced technical certificate students can complete in less than one semester. Not only did the new aligned curriculum WIDS developed allow WTCS to provide anew career pathway for dental assistants to take a step up the career and earnings ladder by taking just a few more credits, the EFDA program also helped take on the worker shortage in WI.  

Reflecting on the program’s success, Dani said,

“The EFDA program provides an upskilling opportunity for dental assistants, and it increases the dental workforce in WI. Several colleges are in line to begin implementation.”