As the lead admissions specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Learning, Clint Nemitz works with his team to connect prospective students with their desired academic programs. It’s work Nemitz sets to with a passion, partly because he understands the struggle of finding the right program, as was the case with his own academic journey.
“My educational path was a winding road to say the least, as most of that time I had more questions than answers,” said Nemitz. “What do I want to do with my life? I have some visions of how I see my life, but how can I get there?”
These questions were constant throughout Nemitz’s educational journey, and as a result, he took his time completing his degree. After earning his associate degree at UW-Richland Center, Nemitz transferred to UW-Platteville, where he often switched majors before settling on a teaching degree. Because of this experience, Nemitz finds it easy to relate to students who contact the Center for Distance Learning, looking to complete their degree and find their path.
What do you enjoy most about working for the Center for Distance Learning?
I love our team! Anytime you can surround yourself with people who would help you in an instant, it makes life that much easier. Our team also provides a great service to a lot of people. Online learning provides people with an opportunity to better themselves and meet lifelong goals through high-quality education. Laura Schieltz, Paige Thomas, Stacy Chiaverotti, Joanna Mueller, Rebecca Eck, and Nicole Waterman all have a common trait – they all genuinely love helping people reach their goals. It is hard not to enjoy helping people and they are the best at it.
In your opinion, what has been the most significant change that’s occurred within the department during your time here?
The most significant change by far has been the rapid increase in our program offerings. It has required a large amount of staff hours to update websites, communications, program plans, processes, etc. We’ve added two associate degrees, two bachelor programs, and two master’s degrees – not to mention the collaborative programs we take part in with other UW institutions. I saw the staff being stretched and a different kind of stress that I hadn’t seen in our department, but because we have such a strong group with great leadership, we ultimately came out stronger and more prepared to serve a broader range of students.
What does a typical day look like for an admission specialist?
Our day is built around outreach to our future students. Being the first person a student speaks to is an important role. The student is making a commitment to themselves that will affect them financially and socially for an extended period of time. There is typically a lot of anxiety that goes into making that decision. Our staff is there to alleviate as much of that stress as possible and make their first steps effortless.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your responsibilities in any way? If so, how have you adapted to the “new normal”?
The pandemic has caused everyone to make shifts in their daily lives, but it is situations like this where you become proud of your work. Our office hasn’t missed a beat. Our staff has been very responsive, and it’s been business as usual. The biggest effect COVID-19 has had on us would be that people are hesitant to get back to school because of the uncertain future. People need to be reminded that the world is still turning. If you have a desire or passion for finishing your bachelor’s or master’s, go for it, regardless of the circumstances.
What is one fact about you that people may not know?
Coaching has been a passion of mine since I graduated from Cassville High School. I coached football, basketball, and baseball throughout the years, dating back to my freshman year at UW-Richland. Coaching is a lot like my recruitment job, making connections, and cultivating relationships. I am extremely grateful to UW-Platteville for allowing me to continue my passion of coaching, as my position allows me the flexibility to continue coaching at Southwestern High School. I like to think that coaching has paid dividends, providing me a platform to help promote UW-Platteville to area youth considering their next steps.