MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome back! It’s hard to believe another school year is upon us. We’re poised for an exciting academic year ahead-our classrooms, offices and hallways are abuzz with activity. I’m looking forward to meeting and greeting our students and talking with you during the coming year. Here’s wishing every one of you success!

“Bringing the Future into Focus” was the theme of last Tuesday’s Fall 2007 Convocation. Over the two days of convocation, more than 1,000 faculty and staff participated in meetings and sessions designed to prepare us as we focus on the year ahead.

I was happy to join so many of you as we kicked off the year and especially enjoyed sharing the video “Shift Happens,” adapted from YouTube, that gave us a somewhat sobering (and fun) look at our world today and the challenges we face as a college in the near future.

I’d like to thank Patrick Barlow, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), and our convocations team, including our many volunteer presenters, for all their hard work in planning and offering this important event.

By the way, the CETL staff is settling into their new space in Room 219 at Truax and have launched a weekly “News Blast” to be posted each week on MATC Matters under the new heading “Professional Development,” where you will find the latest in staff development news and opportunities.

MATC Marvels
Each week I have the opportunity to talk to students about their experiences at MATC. I hear many positive things about our faculty and staff-here a few recent “marvels.”

Thomas Pomykalski, math instructor
Douglas Dillman, visual communications instructor

More MATC Marvels
I also hear about wonderful things our staff, faculty and students have done and want to share a few with your this week:

Matthew Guenette, English instructor. His first collection of poems, Sudden Anthem, won the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize. The book will be published in Winter/Spring 2008.

Congratulations go to MATC’s Beta Beta Psi Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. The chapter has received “4-Star Recognition,” a special commendation recognizing the chapter’s attainment of goals as presented in the Society’s chapter development program. The Society honored Beta Beta Psi at its regional convention and will cite the commendation on its website and at its international convention.

Highlights of my last two weeks
In addition to events on our campuses, I’m always excited to be out in the community each week representing MATC and spreading the word about all the great things we are achieving. At the same time, I learn a lot about what’s going on in our community and how the college can support those efforts.

Recently, I took part in these events:
• Accepted a $200,000 contribution from Fort Healthcare for the Fort Atkinson Campus expansion project.
• Presented “Bringing the Future into Focus� at 2007 Fall Convocation Day.
• Met our new employees at the ice cream social.
• Attended the Jefferson Rotary Club meeting where, together with Bob Dinndorf, gave a presentation on the Fort Atkinson expansion project.
• Met with Downtown Madison, Inc., where I gave a presentation and received some insights on the future for our Downtown Technical Education Center.
• Welcomed students during Truax New Student Daze.
• Attended College Council and the Urban League of Greater Madison Board meeting.
• Visited with some of MATC’s major donors.

In closing, I would like to share a quote by Max DePree from his book, Leadership is Art. Debbie Derr used it last Wednesday in her opening address at the Learner Success assembly. It rings true for our college community as much as it does for the business world:

“The simple act of recognizing diversity in corporate life helps us to connect the great variety of gifts that people bring to the work and service of the organization.”

Have a great semester!

Bettsey