It serves students in parts of 12 counties in south-central Wisconsin: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Marquette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk.
[3] The college was founded in 1912 as the Madison Continuation School, providing vocational education, citizenship, and homemaking classes.
[4] In response to the Great Depression, the Madison Vocational School created non-credit, continuing education courses in artisan crafts, such as millinery, woodworking, and chair-caning.
During the 1942–43 academic year, courses met on the third shift to teach skills needed for wartime manufacturing jobs.
In 1987, the primary campus shifted to a larger, east-side facility, built near the Truax Field Dane County Regional Airport.
The school offers more than 180 associate degrees and technical diploma programs, as well as trade apprenticeships and other certifications.