A college education and a degree open doors — for you and for your life. They can mean new skills, a better job, a career, a promotion, a higher salary. Our objective is to help you and other returning adults succeed as you start or continue your degree.
Submit a request for more information.
"FastTrack's format makes college possible and works well around traditional working schedules."
--Cheryl Maki
Director of Web Services
DCS Netlink, Rice Lake
"We like learning with classmates like us, staying focused, and getting right to the heart of the topic."
--Jessica Stensvold
Stone Lake
FastTrack Student
"I considered college years ago but the timing wasn't right. Today, I'm on track to complete my degree and I'm feeling great about my future!"
--Kathy Ricci
FastTrack/Business Student
NW Region Administrative Assistant
Johnson Bank Rice Lake Branch
“I have always had a desire to further my education, but never the opportunity to do so because of finances, fear of failure, and of course, my age. Things worked out with the support of family, friends, UW staff, and financial aid. As for the fear of failure, everything we know has to be learned. Just by applying yourself and asking tons of questions it's almost impossible to fail because everyone is here to learn.”
--Troy Schumacher
UW-Barron County Alumnus, Rice Lake, Wisconsin
If you are a bit nervous at the prospect of returning to school, we understand. More than one fifth of our students are 22 or older. That means you’ll benefit from services designed with the adult student in mind. It also means you’ll fit right in.
At UW-Barron County, you’ll have an advisor who is dedicated to meeting the needs of adult students. Someone who understands your unique needs. Someone who listens. Someone who is even available by appointment in the evening to meet with you. It’s the kind of personal attention that makes adults feel comfortable here.
UW-Barron County offers top-notch accommodations to returning adult students who wish to further their educational goals and boost the skills they have to offer to their employers. Below, meet some of our staff members who are dedicated to assisting adult students.
I’m Deborah Neuheisel, the Adult Student Advisor and Academic Assistance Advisor. I hope you look through the pages and various links that I've listed below as they may prove to be helpful. My position at UW-Barron County is to assist returning adult students during their transition into college life on our campus. If you have questions regarding an item you find on this website, please contact me.
As Career Counselor/Outreach Specialist coordinating services for adults starting or returning to college or technical training, I have been on the academic staff at both UW-Eau Claire and UW-Barron County. I am also an alumnus of UW-Barron County. I attended UW-BC as a student in the early 70’s and received training in adult student programs, financial aid, and teaching while attending UW-Eau Claire, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and at UW-Stout where I received my Master of Science degree in Counseling. I worked in management for a local business in the Chippewa Valley for seventeen years and taught driver education for the Eau Claire Area School District. Excuse the pun, but I am “driven” to help adults achieve their career and academic dreams.
Being the first-generation college graduate in my family and growing up in northern Wisconsin, I understand the regional labor market and the benefits and the challenges adults experience making career decisions. I returned to college at the age of 42 to make my dream of being a counselor a reality. Since there is no substitute for life experience, bringing my diverse background to my counseling has proven to be an asset for the community.
Hello, my name is Samantha Heathman. I am the Continuing Education Program Manager for UW-Barron County and I am also a UW-Barron County alumnus. I attended UW-BC in the early 90’s and graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1995. I experienced first hand the opportunity a local UW campus can provide for people wanting to live in this beautiful part of the state. After living in Madison and working in the IT industry, I moved back to my home town of Rice Lake.
My role at UW-Barron County in continuing education is to provide credit, non-credit, and customized courses for professional and personal enrichment. I am here to assist your business with professional development for your employees, both onsite and online. For any continuing education questions or to request courses that meet your needs, please feel free to contact me.
