CVTC joins Alliance of Future Makers to reimagine higher education

EducationPress Release

CVTC joins Alliance of Future Makers to reimagine higher education
National initiative brings educators, innovators, leaders together
 
EAU CLAIRE – Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) is proud to announce participation in the Alliance of Future Makers (AFM), a national innovation initiative founded by the Austin Community College District (ACC) to shape the future of higher education. The Alliance brings together educators, administrators, industry leaders, students, and futurists to co-create strategies that prepare students for an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
CVTC, alongside 16 other institutions, totaling 72 members in this cohort, will join together to learn foresight methods, experiment with innovative approaches, and apply future-focused strategies. The Alliance of Future Makers, developed through ACC’s Office for the Future, brings members together monthly to identify emerging trends, develop scenarios, and design solutions that anticipate the needs of students, colleges, and communities.
“Preparing students for the future means we cannot simply respond to change. We have to anticipate it and be at the forefront of innovation in education,” said Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia, president of CVTC. “This opportunity aligns closely with CVTC’s commitment to innovative, applied, and flexible education and will help us continue thinking differently about how we prepare our students and respond to the evolving needs of employers and the communities we serve.”
Led by Dr. Monique Reeves, ACC’s Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future, the Alliance offers three unique cohort tracks: a Fellows Track for scholar-practitioners, an Administrator Track, and the President/CEO Circle for college and university presidents and CEOs invited to participate as an institution based on their demonstrated innovation in the field. The initiative will culminate in spring 2027 with the 2nd Annual Summit of Future Makers, where members will showcase future-ready models for higher education.
“This is not a conversation for later. It’s a call for leaders, innovators, and educators to step into the work now,” says Reeves. “By joining the Alliance, you become part of the community that will decide what higher education looks like in 2030 and beyond — and ensure that it continues to serve students, employers, and community in ways that matter.”
For more information about the Alliance of Future Makers, visit austincc.edu/afm.
 
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ABOUT CVTC: With 145+ programs, certificates and apprenticeships offered online and on campus, Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers innovative, applied and flexible education that supports a diverse community of learners, improves the lives of students and adds value to our communities. CVTC programs are designed with the input of employers throughout the CVTC district to prepare graduates for today’s jobs with 94 percent employed within six months of graduation and associate degree graduates earning an average annual salary of $61,332.
About the Alliance of Future Makers: The Alliance of Future Makers, launched by Austin Community College District’s Office for the Future, is a national network of educators, industry leaders, and futurists committed to reimagining higher education. Through collaborative foresight, innovation, and design, AFM equips institutions to anticipate change, build agility, and prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world.
About ACC: Austin Community College District is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. The college is focused on student success and building brighter futures through upward mobility. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative learning programs, ACC provides affordable, flexible pathways to help everyone reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college enrolls more than 70,000 students annually.
 

CVTC joins Alliance of Future Makers to reimagine higher education