Virtual open house features career-advancing courses  

October 3, 2019 – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Continuing Education Department will host a virtual open house with their education partner ProTrain, a national training provider, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at noon-1 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Those interested in career growth can learn how to gain new skills, retool, or enter a new field during the virtual open house. Register online at choose.uwrf.edu/pt.

Attendees will hear about the fastest-growing careers in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin regions, including healthcare, business, leadership and industrial fields. In addition, attendees will discover noncredit online courses that provide the job skills local employers demand.

“It can be difficult for small or rural employers to build the capacity and expertise they need in their current workforce,” said Randy Zimmermann, director of UWRF Continuing Education. “With these online classes, employees simply need access to the internet to learn and acquire new skills for their current and future careers.”

The noncredit, online classes also provide an option for education to employment. Recently, UWRF Continuing Education received approval from the West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board for six of these courses to be listed in the Eligible Training Program List (ETPL). The approval serves to expand options for individuals qualified under Federal Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by adding to the portfolio of programs that qualify as eligible for use of WIOA funds.

“The approved courses serve to prepare individuals for work in administrative medical assisting, digital marketing, human resources, industrial maintenance, and project management. There is also a course that prepares you for the exam in Six Sigma Green Belt certification,” said Angela Whitaker, UWRF Continuing Education program manager. “We are working with job centers in the region to understand the needs of our community and identify additional courses to submit for approval.”

UWRF’s online catalog—uwrf.theknowledgebase.org—provides a complete list of courses and registration instructions. Online classes may be delivered live on a certain date and time, or students can complete the work at a time and place that fits their schedules.

A leader in workforce development classes, ProTrain offers professional development, certificates and quality classroom online training. They also provide mentors to guide and support students taking classes.

The UWRF Continuing Education office provides lifelong learners with academic, professional development and enrichment programs that are practical, flexible, convenient and affordable. A complete list of courses, course descriptions and online registration information is available at go.uwrf.edu/ce, by calling 715-425-3256, 1-800-228-5607 or by sending an email to continuing.ed@uwrf.edu.