MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

This week, “The Friday Cheer” group that I mentioned in my November 5 message added a “Monday Cheer” (to the tune of Jingle Bells): “Monday’s here, Monday’s here, Monday’s here HOORAY! Oh what fun it is to help any time of DAYAY! We are here, we are here, we are at our best! Bring it on…we love it all. Let me get that call!” What a great way to start out the week! Here’s a photo of “The Monday Cheer” group.

Winter has arrived with great intensity! But there is a silver lining. Many acts of kindness and assistance have taken place around the campus especially during Tuesday’s storm and building closure.

Bob Dinndorf, MATC Foundation executive director, and Timothy Jacobson, financial aid administrator, were seen brushing the snow off of vehicles other than their own. Courtesy and patience were displayed by students and staff during the frenzy while leaving the parking lot following the building closure. R. D. “Doug� Montgomery, Jr., computer information systems instructor, assisted a blind student trying to cross the busy Wright Street walkways to get to the bus shelter. And again, special thanks to the facilities staff for keeping the buildings and grounds clean and safe during all the inclement weather.

Mid-year Commencement
Time flies when you’re as focused as our students, faculty and staff. Another commencement ceremony is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to congratulating our graduates on December 20. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Redsten Gym at Truax. I hope some of you will be able to stop by and wish our new graduates well.

January Convocation
Convocation is coming soon, too, on January 8 and 9. The keynote speaker is Dr. Joe Martin, an award-winning national speaker, author, professor and retention expert. He’s authored or co-authored seven books, including Good Teachers Never Quit, Let Your Leadership Speak and Tricks of the Grade. We’ll also hear about the Master Plan and campus safety and get an update on the work of systems integration councils and CQI teams. CETL has posted the latest schedule on its website.

Reminder: Holiday Celebrations
This week a variety of holiday celebrations are planned, including the President’s Holiday Gatherings and the MATC Holiday party. I hope you will be able to attend one of these events and help us celebrate the holiday season!

Inside Higher Ed
The article that appeared in the Dec. 11, 2007, e-issue of Inside Higher Ed is worth further mention. The article, “Shining a Spotlight on 2-Year Colleges,â€? reads in part: “Community colleges have been slowly creeping into more and more policy discussions at the state level, with governors and legislators increasingly recognizing the key role that two-year institutions play in developing workers, educating adults and, to a larger extent every day, serving as an entry point for traditional age students. . .” A blog offering an opportunity to comment on the article seems to have created a lively discussion!

Combined Campaign
December 21 is the deadline for contributions to the “Friends Who Careâ€? Combined Charitable Campaign here at MATC. Your contributions support so many people in need in our community. If you need a donation form or more information, contact Barb Wise at 243-4202. A drop box also will be set up near the Gourmet Dining Room during the President’s Holiday gathering at Truax.

MATC Marvels
Here are this week’s “favorite teachers” as mentioned to me by students:
Kay Parish, radiography
John Andrews, commercial art
Gary Johnson, anatomy/physiology
Jami Moe, radiography
Ken Walz, chemistry
Franklin Cham, English
William Hammes, radiography

Other MATC Marvels
Welding instructor Valerie Weihman-Rock hosted a group of Brownies, 7- and 8-year-old girls, on Saturday in the MATC welding lab. Troop Leader Kelly Daniels is an MATC student enrolled in Valerie’s Art Metal Welding class. Kelly wanted to share her enthusiasm for the class with her troop and help them explore welding as a career choice for women.

Last week I had the pleasure of congratulating three of our students whose holiday card designs were selected as the top three in a contest to create Gov. and Mrs. Doyle’s annual holiday card. First place went to Johannah Anderson, a student in John Ribble’s illustration class. In addition to having her art appear on the governor’s holiday card, she received a $500 grant from the MATC Foundation. Ann Foley took second place and won a $250 grant, and Tracy Harris will receive a $100 grant for third place. Both Ann and Tracy are in Mike Martin’s graphic design class. About 70 MATC art, graphic design and photography students competed for the honor. Thanks to the students who participated and to Deb Vogt, graphic design instructor; Jim Wildeman, photography instructor, Kathleen Radionoff, dean of Business and Applied Art and the faculty, administrators and staff who helped organize our students’ participation!

Highlights of my week:

• met with the WTCS Presidents Relationship Committee;
• attended the Leadership Brown Bag where updates were reported on Infrastructure Services and from the Technology Oversight Committee;
• met with the President’s Advisory Team;
• met with our Phi Theta Kappa officers to meet one of the requirements for their five-star status;
• participated in the monthly joint meeting with the PSRP Executive Board and Executive Team;
• met with Janice Bultema, our district board chair;
• participated in the Schools of Hope Leadership team meeting;
• wished Janie Wimberly well at the surprise reception held in her honor;
• attended the district board meeting, including a joint meeting with our Foundation board;
• heard about The Wisconsin Way from Mark O’Connell, executive head of the Wisconsin Counties Association, at the monthly WTCS Presidents meeting;
• attended a reception hosted by John and Georgia Wiley at the UW Mechanical Engineering Building;
• attended, as a board member, the annual meeting of the Urban League of Greater Madison; and
• visited a foundation donor. 

Here’s a wonderful quote by Edith Lovejoy Pierce to remember when you ponder your New Year’s resolutions:

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put some words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

My next message will be written on January 7, 2008. May your holiday be filled with love, laughter and renewed spirit.

Bettsey