A version of this piece originally appeared in the 2025 Anoka Tech Newsletter. View other featured stories
Family. Work. Finances. Personal relationships. Students live complicated lives and are busy outside the classroom. Anoka Tech is committed to comprehensively supporting students.
Updates to program structure and academic offerings are making it easier for Anoka Tech students to meet their education goals.
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Behavioral Health and Human Services, Judicial Reporting and IT students are benefitting from expanded access to online learning options and adjustments to the length of programs. These changes are helping students preserve flexibility without sacrificing access to in-demand career and technical training.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
OTA student Sarah Dunn says the updated structure allows her choice and control of more aspects of her studies.
“The hybrid format has been really nice for this program,” says OTA student Sarah Dunn. “I like being able to do a lot of the online work at my own pace. I then get to come into class and apply all the stuff that I’ve learned.”
Though the flexibility adds convenience, Dunn says she still feels challenged academically.
“I think it’s really important students are committed,” she says. “It is a hard program and it can be a lot. But it’s setting you up for success in the long run.”
OTA Program Director Barb Kloetzke says offering some courses in a hybrid format was an intentional response to feedback from students.
“Many of our students are not traditional ages, work full-time or have families,” says Kloetzke. “Having one less day on campus allowed students to continue to work or take the time to be with their families.”
Judicial Reporting
“The Judicial Reporting program at Anoka Tech is very supportive toward its students,” says student Qadeer Omar-Taylor. “The teachers I’ve had are extremely understanding that this is a hard skill to learn. They provide us with everything we need.”
Judicial Reporting program students like Omar-Taylor can now self-select how they participate in their courses. They can either learn in-person, online synchronous, online asynchronous or some combination of those formats.
“I think one of the great aspects of Anoka Tech is its flexibility. Whether that be remote, in-person, asynchronous learning,” says Omar-Taylor. “You have so many different options to be able to actually complete your degree or certification.”
Information Technology
Flexibility is also on the table for students in Anoka Tech’s Information Technology (IT) programs. During the fall 2024 semester, programs shifted to be offered entirely online while offering multiple start dates throughout the year.
Anoka Tech’s IT program now offers Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in five career concentration areas:
- Business Data Analyst
- IT Support
- Network Management & Security
- Software Development
- Web Design & Development
Community Health Worker
Dr. Zakia Robbins-McNeal, director of the Behavioral Health and Human Services program at Anoka Tech says juggling life’s obligations has, at times, made it difficult for students to complete a 60-credit associate of applied science degree.
The Community Health Worker certificate can be completed in just two semesters, completely online and in an asynchronous format. The program provides students with both the necessary foundation for a career in community health and covers the first two semesters of the associate degree.
“Many of our students are adult learners, parents or care takers of older or vulnerable adults in their families,” says Robbins-McNeal. “Often students are taking classes a little at a time in order to balance school and other priorities.”
Starting fall 2025 semester, Anoka Tech began offering a 17-credit Community Health Worker certificate. Community health workers provide direct service to clients with the aim of providing necessary support to stay healthy and independent.