Guest Speaker: Dr. Laurie Borowicz
The new president at Kishwaukee College has been on the job for just over three months, but intends to make the most of her time there – by bringing as many students from the area as possible to the institution, with emphasis on the wide range of courses they offer.
Dr. Laurie Borowicz comes to the area from Wausau, Wisconsin, where she had been Vice President of Student Services at Northcentral Technical College. She saw the potential that Kishwaukee College had for her career, as well as the potential it offers to students; since her arrival, Dr. Borowicz has spent time getting to know the staff and students, and seeing how an education at Kishwaukee can further a lot of students’ careers.
Borowicz says four-year institutions are becoming more expensive for students; a graduate from such an institution faces an average student loan debt of over $26,000, and some professions are facing a glut of graduates who are unable to find work. She says that once upon a time, getting any sort of degree meant that you were all but guaranteed employment upon graduation; now, there is too much competition in some areas, leaving students with a debt load they are having difficulty getting out from under.
She says going to a community college like Kishwaukee can get you the same opportunities at a lower cost; two years there can serve as a launching pad to a four-year institution, or can put you directly on track to a career.