MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I look forward to seeing all of you at opening session of Convocation on October 24. Now that the semester is at the mid-term point, it’s good to take this time to step out of our normal routine and look at where we’ve been, where we are now and where we are going.

Our theme of “Bringing the Future into Focus” will continue with a look at how we’re meeting (and exceeding) our current goal of transforming students’ lives as well as a look at what’s ahead. Futurist Rick Smyre will present the keynote address, “Education in a Perfect Storm.” Rick is president of the Communities of the Future (COTF) Center and specializes in guiding communities wanting to transform in meaningful ways.

Join your colleagues for refreshments in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30 a.m., followed by the opening session at 8:30 a.m. in the Mitby Theater and a day filled with stimulating sessions designed to inform and energize us.

State budget update

Yet another week has gone by without a state budget, but some progress has been made in bringing both sides closer together on some issues. The Assembly has greatly reduced its proposed cuts to our existing funding and has proposed to restore some funding for the Workforce Advancement Training grants. The Senate continues to push for veterans remission funding and continues to back an approximate 2.5% annual increase in financial aid to WTCS students.

Attached is a budget issues comparison chart (WORD: 112 KB) from Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association Executive Director Paul Gabriel that lays out the different proposals. Your contacts to legislators certainly made a difference in helping to bring people closer together. There’s still no word on key issues such as a levy freeze so we need to continue to make our legislators aware of the importance of resolving the budget issue.

MATC Marvels
Here are this week’s “favorite teachers,” as mentioned to me by students:
Kristine Held, business technology, Fort Atkinson Campus
Thomas Pomykalski, mathematics
June Sarabacker, business technology

Other MATC Marvels
A special thank you to Terry Webb, associate vice president for learner success, and all of the people who had input and recommendations for the Academic Plan. Terry gave a very good presentation to the District Board last week that included faculty recommendations. He also listed the next steps: prioritize plan components and major recommendations, integrate academic plan into unit planning process and integrate academic plan into facilities’ master plan. This is the most important piece for our conversation with the District Board at their next meeting regarding master planning.

Geoffrey Bradshaw, international program planner, and Anna Purnell, English instructor, for coordinating the visit of 23 Japanese delegates who came to learn more about the educational, scientific and cultural exchanges between China and Wisconsin. There was a taiko (tie-ko) drum group that kicked off a special International Studies signing ceremony between MATC and Japan’s Kanda University. This signing signifies the first student exchange partnership between a Wisconsin technical college and a Japanese university. Wisconsin has had a sister-state relationship with Chiba, Japan, since 1990.

A parent called to let us know that the Child Care Center staff has been very nice to her daughter who attends child care and that her daughter loves it. She wanted to let us know how much she appreciates having her child at the center.

Human & Protective Services Center and grants and special projects staff for procuring two grants totaling over $230,000 for homeland security task force training.

Highlights of my week

In addition to events on our campuses, I’ve had the opportunity to go out into the community to share news about MATC and learn what’s going on. Recently, I took part in these events:

• met with the Batterman Family Foundation current and future executive directors along with Cindy Bowen, eastern region administrative specialist; Fred Brechlin, architect; Bob Dinndorf, foundation executive director; Jeff Dodge, regional campus manager–east; Catherine Krahn, practical nursing instructor; Dr. Sido, health and safety education dean; and Lorin Toepper, executive director-economic and workforce development eastern region
• heard a bit about legend Vince Lombardi at the Rotary Club of Madison
• attended the full-time faculty reception
• participated in the MATC District Board meeting
• attended the Learning Symposium that included leaders from the four Community Councils of Color (African American, Asian, Latino and Native American) who reported on their activities and findings during the last year. The room was packed, the reports were well done, and I congratulate Maria Banuelos, associate vice president for diversity and community relations, Gwen Torkelson, human resources director, and Debbie Derr, vice president for learner success, for pulling this off. The best comment that I heard was from one of our past critics who said, “MATC has met with us in the past and promised things but nothing ever happened. Today we’re seeing the results of our requests.â€?
• participated in the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee meeting
• met and welcomed our new minority employees at a reception held in their honor

In closing, here is a quote that is on a wall at our Fort Atkinson Campus. I had this same quote on the wall of my first classroom and used it in most of the classes I’ve taught since then. It’s by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Have a great week!

Bettsey