Madison College honored UW Health with the Futuremaker Partner Award, recognizing its collaborative efforts to tackle workforce challenges in health care. The award, presented by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board (WTCS) and its member colleges, celebrates exceptional relationships between the state’s technical colleges and their employer partners.
Madison College and UW Health launched the nation’s first Registered Nurse Apprenticeship program in fall 2023. The two organizations collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to establish the four-year apprenticeship, with 16 students in the inaugural class.
Apprentices receive full financial support for tuition, books, and supplies, as well as salaries and benefits, eliminating financial barriers to entry.
The nursing apprenticeship expanded to the nation’s first respiratory therapy apprenticeship in the fall of 2024, with five individuals in the inaugural cohort. Madison College faculty provided hands-on classroom instruction and guidance, including prerequisite and specialized respiratory therapy courses. The apprentices will transition into respiratory therapy positions at UW Health after graduating and passing the board examination.
