as of September 19, 2021

Western Technical College

400 Seventh Street North
PO Box C-0908
La Crosse, WI 54602-0908
(608) 785-9210
www.westerntc.edu

*Previous names: Western Wisconsin Technical Institute to Western Wisconsin Technical College (8/19/87) to Western Technical College (3/29/06)

---

The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.

---

Accreditation Information

Current status: Accredited

Candidacy date(s):

04/08/1970 - 03/21/1972

Accreditation granted:

03/22/1972

Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2014 - 2015
     • Action Letter (PDF)

Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2023 - 2024

---

Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews

Date	Event	Description
2023 - 2024:	Comprehensive Evaluation

---

Most Recent History with the Commission

Date	Event	Description
03/09/2015:	Quality Checkup	Continue Accreditation
02/28/2008:	Reaffirmation of Accreditation

---

General Institutional Information

This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope. The information is self-reported by the institution through the annual Institutional Update to the Commission. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s web site noted above.

Control: Public

Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (44)

Certificate programs (number offered): 53

Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 08/27/2021; the information may not be current.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at:

In-State:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		Arcadia High School - Arcadia, WI; Arcadia Fire Department - Arcadia, WI; Arcadia Ambulance Services - Arcadia, WI; Bangor Emergency Medical Services - Bangor, WI; Western Technical College Black River Falls - Black River Falls, WI; Jackson Correctional Institute - Black River Falls, WI; Gross Motors - Black River Falls, WI; Black River Falls High School - Black River Falls, WI; Black River Falls Ambulance Services - Black River Falls, WI; Ho Chunk Nation Emergency Medical Services - Black River Falls, WI; Blair Fire Department - Blair, WI; Camp Douglas Fire Department - Camp Douglas, WI; Cashton Emergency Medical Services - Cashton, WI; Scenic Valley Emergency Medical Service - Cochrane, WI; Coon Valley Emergency Medical Services - Coon Valley, WI; De Soto Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - De Soto, WI; Wheatland Emergency Medical Services - De Soto, WI; Royall High School - Elroy, WI; Elroy Area Fire Ambulance Association - Elroy, WI; Ettrick Fire Department - Ettrick, WI; Ferryville Emergency Medical Services - Ferryville, WI; Fountain City Emergency Medical Services - Fountain City, WI; Galesville Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Galesville, WI; Geona Emergency Medical Services - Genoa, WI; Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service - Hillsboro, WI; Hixton Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Hixton, WI; Holmen Emergency Medical Services - Holmen, WI; Independence Regional Learning Center - Independence, WI; Automotive/Diesel Technology Center - La Crosse, WI; Apprenticeship and Industry Training Center - La Crosse, WI; Health Science Center - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse County Jail - La Crosse, WI; Shelby Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse Fire Department - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse Regional Airport - La Crosse, WI; La Farge Area Ambulance - La Farge, WI; Lyndon Station Emergency Medical Services - Lyndon Station, WI; Mauston Regional Learning Center - Mauston, WI; Mauston High School - Mauston, WI; Melrose-Mindoro High School - Melrose, WI; Farmington Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Mindoro, WI; New Lisbon Correctional Institution - New Lisbon, WI; New Lisbon Emergency Medical Services - New Lisbon, WI; Oakdale Emergency Medical Services - Oakdale, WI; Onalaska Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Onalaska, WI; Brice Prairie Emergency Medical Services - Onalaska, WI; Brookwood High School - Ontario, WI; Ontario Fire Department - Ontario, WI; Pigeon Falls Emergency Medical Services - Pigeon Falls, WI; Sparta Public Safety Training Facility - Sparta, WI; Sparta High School - Sparta, WI; Fort McCoy - Sparta, WI; Morrow Home Community - Sparta, WI; Sparta Fire Department - Sparta, WI; Cataract Emergency Medical Services - Sparta, WI; Stoddard Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Stoddard, WI; Taylor Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Taylor, WI; Tomah Regional Learning Center - Tomah, WI; Robert Kupper Learning Center - Tomah, WI; Tomah Fire Department - Tomah, WI; Tomah Area Ambulance Service - Tomah, WI; Trempealeau Emergency Medical Services - Trempealeau , WI; Viroqua Regional Learning Center - Viroqua, WI; Sleepy Hallow - Viroqua, WI; Viroqua Fire Department - Viroqua, WI; Warrens Emergency Medical Services - Warrens, WI; Waumandee Emergency Medical Services - Waumandee, WI; West Salem Fire Department - West Salem, WI; West Salem Emergency Medical Services - West Salem, WI; Westby Emergency Medical Services - Westby, WI; Tri-County Whitehall High School - Whitehall, WI; Whitehall Fire Department - Whitehall, WI; Tri-County Ambulance Service - Whitehall, WI; Wilton Ambulance Service - Wilton, WI; Yuba Emergency Medical Services - Yuba, WI;
Out-of-State:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		None.
Out-of-U.S.:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		None.

Location	Campuses	Additional Locations
In-State:	None.	Arcadia High School - Arcadia, WI; Arcadia Fire Department - Arcadia, WI; Arcadia Ambulance Services - Arcadia, WI; Bangor Emergency Medical Services - Bangor, WI; Western Technical College Black River Falls - Black River Falls, WI; Jackson Correctional Institute - Black River Falls, WI; Gross Motors - Black River Falls, WI; Black River Falls High School - Black River Falls, WI; Black River Falls Ambulance Services - Black River Falls, WI; Ho Chunk Nation Emergency Medical Services - Black River Falls, WI; Blair Fire Department - Blair, WI; Camp Douglas Fire Department - Camp Douglas, WI; Cashton Emergency Medical Services - Cashton, WI; Scenic Valley Emergency Medical Service - Cochrane, WI; Coon Valley Emergency Medical Services - Coon Valley, WI; De Soto Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - De Soto, WI; Wheatland Emergency Medical Services - De Soto, WI; Royall High School - Elroy, WI; Elroy Area Fire Ambulance Association - Elroy, WI; Ettrick Fire Department - Ettrick, WI; Ferryville Emergency Medical Services - Ferryville, WI; Fountain City Emergency Medical Services - Fountain City, WI; Galesville Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Galesville, WI; Geona Emergency Medical Services - Genoa, WI; Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service - Hillsboro, WI; Hixton Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Hixton, WI; Holmen Emergency Medical Services - Holmen, WI; Independence Regional Learning Center - Independence, WI; Automotive/Diesel Technology Center - La Crosse, WI; Apprenticeship and Industry Training Center - La Crosse, WI; Health Science Center - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse County Jail - La Crosse, WI; Shelby Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse Fire Department - La Crosse, WI; La Crosse Regional Airport - La Crosse, WI; La Farge Area Ambulance - La Farge, WI; Lyndon Station Emergency Medical Services - Lyndon Station, WI; Mauston Regional Learning Center - Mauston, WI; Mauston High School - Mauston, WI; Melrose-Mindoro High School - Melrose, WI; Farmington Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Mindoro, WI; New Lisbon Correctional Institution - New Lisbon, WI; New Lisbon Emergency Medical Services - New Lisbon, WI; Oakdale Emergency Medical Services - Oakdale, WI; Onalaska Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Onalaska, WI; Brice Prairie Emergency Medical Services - Onalaska, WI; Brookwood High School - Ontario, WI; Ontario Fire Department - Ontario, WI; Pigeon Falls Emergency Medical Services - Pigeon Falls, WI; Sparta Public Safety Training Facility - Sparta, WI; Sparta High School - Sparta, WI; Fort McCoy - Sparta, WI; Morrow Home Community - Sparta, WI; Sparta Fire Department - Sparta, WI; Cataract Emergency Medical Services - Sparta, WI; Stoddard Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Stoddard, WI; Taylor Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services - Taylor, WI; Tomah Regional Learning Center - Tomah, WI; Robert Kupper Learning Center - Tomah, WI; Tomah Fire Department - Tomah, WI; Tomah Area Ambulance Service - Tomah, WI; Trempealeau Emergency Medical Services - Trempealeau , WI; Viroqua Regional Learning Center - Viroqua, WI; Sleepy Hallow - Viroqua, WI; Viroqua Fire Department - Viroqua, WI; Warrens Emergency Medical Services - Warrens, WI; Waumandee Emergency Medical Services - Waumandee, WI; West Salem Fire Department - West Salem, WI; West Salem Emergency Medical Services - West Salem, WI; Westby Emergency Medical Services - Westby, WI; Tri-County Whitehall High School - Whitehall, WI; Whitehall Fire Department - Whitehall, WI; Tri-County Ambulance Service - Whitehall, WI; Wilton Ambulance Service - Wilton, WI; Yuba Emergency Medical Services - Yuba, WI;
Out-of-State:	None.	None.
Out-of-U.S.:	None.	None.

---

About HLC and Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in a 19-state region of the United States.

Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online offerings. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through national or specialized accreditation agencies. National accreditation associations, like regional accreditors, accredit the institution as a whole. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.

Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the United States which regional agencies oversee. The regional accreditation agencies have similar standards for accrediting colleges and universities.

Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status.

HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of guiding values. The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 1,600 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. Peer reviewers also serve on committees that make up the decision-making bodies of the accreditation process.

Evaluation Process




HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets standards and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to complete an annual filing of the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices on institutional change.

Peer reviewers trained in HLC’s standards evaluate institutions’ demonstration of whether they meet the Criteria for Accreditation and make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies.

Institutional Actions Council (Decision-Making Body)




The Board of Trustees appoints and authorizes members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) to conduct reviews and take actions on the majority of accreditation recommendations. IAC members consist of representatives of academic institutions accredited by HLC, as well as members of the public. Detailed information on IAC processes is found in HLC’s policies on decision-making.

Public Information




In the interest of being transparent, HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.

Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. Since July 2013, in all cases of issuing continued accreditation, placing an institution on or resolving a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing and the institution’s status in HLC’s online directory is updated. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued in cases of sanction and other HLC actions to provide the public insight into the issues regarding that institution.

Complaints Against HLC-Accredited Institutions




HLC allows faculty, students, and other parties to submit formal complaints regarding an HLC-affiliated institution through its complaints process. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet the Criteria for Accreditation or other HLC requirements.