$1.2M Dental Clinic Expansion In Progress at 91Ƭ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/15/2025
CLEVELAND, WI —
Construction on the expansion of 91Ƭ’s on-site dental clinic began Dec. 16 with an anticipated completion date of June 1, 2025. The clinic is expected to be fully operational for training and hosting the college’s Community Dental Clinic by June 30.
During construction, 91Ƭ’s dental assistant program students are practicing skills and completing clinical evaluations two days a week at 91Ƭ Community Health Care in Manitowoc. Thanks to a new partnership between the two organizations, 91Ƭ Community Health Care is also providing a mobile dental unit for the students to work on skills one day a week on 91Ƭ’s Cleveland campus.
“Expanding our dental clinic and launching a dental hygiene program are crucial steps to meeting the growing needs of our community,” said 91Ƭ President Dr. Paul Carlsen. “We are grateful for the 91Ƭ Community Health Care partnership that allows our students to gain essential hands-on experience while we are addressing the critical shortage of dental professionals in our region.”
“We are proud to partner with 91Ƭ by providing clinical space for students. This collaboration not only ensures hands-on training for future dental professionals but supports our mission to expand access to dental care in our community,” said Kristin Stearns, CEO of 91Ƭ Community Health Care.
“Wisconsin faces a significant need for dental hygienists,” added Stearns. “91Ƭ recognized this challenge and is working quickly to expand their dental program to include an associate degree in dental hygiene.”
In May of last year, 91Ƭ secured over $1.2 million in new funding to support the expansion of the college’s dental clinic and the development of an accredited dental hygiene program. Carlsen said the accreditation process takes approximately 18 months, leading to an anticipated program launch in the fall of 2026.
Information about 91Ƭ’s dental assistant and other programs can be found at lakeshore.edu.
ABOUT LAKESHORE COLLEGE
91Ƭ, formerly known as 91Ƭ Technical College, is a comprehensive community and technical college educating more than 9,000 students annually. Students enroll at 91Ƭ to master real-world, employable career skills and start their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. 91Ƭ faculty and staff are focused on providing each student an individualized learning experience.
91Ƭ is a nationally recognized two-year college. The college was ranked #2 in the nation by Washington Monthly, #17 in the nation by Forbes, #20 in the nation by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college by the Aspen Institute, a 2024 Bellwether Award winner, and named the 2021 Large Business/Industry of the Year by the Chamber of Manitowoc County.
Approximately 800 students graduate from 91Ƭ each year, and associate degree graduates report earning a median salary of $55,698 within six months of graduating. In addition to the Cleveland campus, 91Ƭ educates students at learning campuses in downtown Manitowoc and downtown Sheboygan. Classes are also offered at additional sites throughout the district. Visit 91Ƭ at lakeshore.edu.
