How Technical Colleges Are Redefining Learning for the Future of Work - Layla Merrifield, President of the WTCS

Haven’t been to a technical college in the last 3 years? The transformation is striking, and it’s only a glimpse of the reinvention higher education faces in the next decade.

In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner talks with Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System, about why the future of higher education depends on bold innovation. Merrifield doesn’t mince words: credit loss should be a thing of the past, neurodivergent inclusion is an imperative, and U.S. colleges can no longer “rest on our laurels” as global competition accelerates.

From the arrival of Workforce Pell, to personalized student success plans, to stackable credentials, Merrifield argues that technical and community colleges must evolve—or risk irrelevance. Her perspective offers educators and employers alike a roadmap for building systems that are more inclusive, more responsive, and more essential than ever.

Listen to learn:

• The implications of expanding Pell Grants to short-term, high-demand programs (8–15 weeks) and how this reshapes access to workforce training.
• How Wisconsin’s technical college system compares to others in terms of state oversight, innovation, and responsiveness—and what models elsewhere might teach WTCS and vice versa.
• How “credit loss should be a thing of the past”—why stackable credentials and seamless transfer paths are non-negotiable.
• Why Layla argues for a universal design for learning that accommodates neurodivergent learners (and why it's the best mode for all students).
• Why Merrifield believes technical colleges must “evolve or be left behind” in a world of AI, disruption, and global competition.

3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:

1. Higher education must pivot quickly to stay relevant. Layla pointed to campuses closing outdated programs while adding new ones, the arrival of Workforce Pell expanding aid to short-term credentials, and the dramatic transformation of technical college facilities—“if you haven’t been on a campus in three years, you’d be shocked at how different it looks.” Together, these shifts show that technical colleges are reinventing themselves faster than most people realize .

2. Credit loss should be a thing of the past. Merrifield highlighted UW–Stout’s automation leadership degree, where students can use industry certifications to transfer 88 of 120 credits toward a bachelor’s. She also emphasized dual credit programs, transferring entire programs, and credit for work experience as essential tools to eliminate wasted time and money.

3. Universal design for learning makes inclusion the default. Layla explained that universal design for learning ensures learning is accessible to all from the start rather than relying on retrofitted accommodations. With 20–25% of learners falling into neurodivergent categories, she argued that education must be designed with multiple pathways for receiving and demonstrating knowledge—whether that’s reading, video, hands-on practice, or other modes. In her words, “Why not design our learning so that it is accessible to everyone right from the start?

Resources in this Episode:
Learn more about the Wisconsin Technical College System: www.wtcsystem.edu

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