MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

WELCOME BACK! What a busy summer it has been. You’ll notice some physical changes at different campuses. In particular, the Fort Atkinson project has made great progress, and the cafeteria area at Truax is transforming to a warm, inviting space for students and staff. I want to thank everyone who was here over the summer for their patience and for “pardoning our dust” as the projects kicked into high gear.

As I walked the empty halls on Friday afternoon and saw the floors just shining, I thought about how beautiful they were and how scuffed they will soon be and what a wonderful thing it is that we have so many students and staff.

Convocation
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Convocation tomorrow. This is our opportunity to welcome new people, catch up with our friends and colleagues, and learn about plans for the coming year. Our theme this year is ‘Fostering Student Success: Concrete Ideas/Concrete Action.” As we’ve worked on many of our AQIP teams and projects, we can certainly see concrete results for many of our efforts. This year we expect even more.

Our keynote speaker this year is Betsy Barefoot, co-director and senior scholar for the Policy Center on the First Year of College. The Center’s mission is to improve the beginning college experience through enhanced learning, success and retention of new students. We’ll also hear from colleagues about some important projects unfolding in the coming year.

Administrative Reassignments
In preparation for the new academic year, the following administrative reassignments have been made. Kathleen Radionoff has been appointed Dean, Continuing Education. Turina Bakken will assume the role as Dean of Business and Applied Arts and Nancy Meyer has been assigned the role of Part-time Faculty Coordinator. A search is currently underway for the Associate Dean of Business and Applied Arts. These changes are effective immediately and arrangements for smooth transitions are underway.

Global Education
I have been appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Global Education and will serve for a three-year period. AACC commissions were established to provide advice to the AACC Board and staff, encourage collaboration among community college entities and organizations, provide a forum for focused conversation about the important community college issues and priorities of the day, provide for increased involvement in the association by AACC member CEOs and other professional staff, and provide leadership opportunities for members of the AACC Board of Directors (who serve as chairs). The mission-building bridges of collaboration and involvement among community colleges-is a vital one, and I’m excited to be able to contribute in this direct way.

MATC Marvels
Here are “favorite teachers and staff,” as mentioned to me by students over the summer:
Agnes Chwae, DTEC metals arts
Denise Gratz, phlebotomy
Larry Hansen, English
Jennifer Patten, learning programs advisor for the Applied Arts Program
Paul Morschauser, diesel
John Lalor, college success
Teresa Cattaneo, anatomy and physiology
Ronald Dunbar, economics
James Wildeman, photography
Keith Clark, business

Here is a letter I received about Joel Ryan, history instructor:
“First off, MATC has not met my expectations…It has exceeded them in every way possible. I cannot put into words what a tremendous influence Joel Ryan has been on me. He is truly amazing at what he does. He will alter his personal schedule to meet with students, and it seems as if his ultimate goal is to get students to learn (isn’t that what college is all about?). He gives advice rather than harsh criticism, and always allows room to better yourself. Whether interested in history or not, all of his students seem to take an active role in his class, not out of obligation, but because Joel brings out the best in them. His classes are very interactive and he never looks down on students for their input or opinions. Joel will embrace any opinion that has genuine thought put into it. His classes are challenging, but, in a good way, and if a student ever needs help, he is there. He has an amazing knowledge of the material he teaches as well. I have had three classes with him, and my only regret is I cannot take a fourth. He is a credit to this college and I will always remember him for how much he has helped me.”

Joel is a great example of the impact we can have on students’ lives. As you begin a new year, I want to share another story with you from a student. An article appeared in The Westby Times (near LaCrosse) about Ruth Southworth, a former MATC commercial art instructor who recently passed away. It was written by one of her students, and shows us beautifully the lasting influence we can have.

Other MATC Marvels
Sarah Johnson, English instructor and Writing Center director, was a lead (Pitti-Sing) in the Madison Savoyards production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado. She got a great review in The Capital Times!

Judy Jones participated in the American Diploma Project (ADP) and Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) initiative of the Department of Public Instruction as a member of the ADP/P21 Mathematics Design Team.

Thank you to Marty Crabbs, Brad Kahn and Chris Worthington for their support during the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) alumni event.

Congratulations go to Brent Sieling, instructor for Information Technology, who recently received a “Special 4 R� award from the Cisco Networking Academy in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the successful launch of the new Cisco CCNA curriculum.

Special thanks to all those who helped run this year’s Learning to Learn Camp. Thanks to you, a new group of students will be better prepared for the road ahead.

Highlights of my week:

• attended the Madison Symphony Orchestra board and advisors annual reception;

• spoke with UW Colleges Chancellor David Wilson regarding cooperation for degree completion for our students;
• welcomed new full-time and also new part-time faculty during their orientation sessions;
• attended Rotary Club of Madison and spoke with Pat Farrell, Provost of UW–Madison
• met with Bob Dinndorf and Pend Armistead (The Clements Group) to discuss progress on the Foundation’s “Smart Futureâ€? gift campaign;
• attended the MATC District Board meeting;
• met with visiting students from Egypt;
• participated in the WTCS Presidents Council and the Legislative Committee meetings;
• welcomed community leaders from the Springfield, Missouri Chamber of Commerce who were on campus as part of a visit to Madison;
• had the opportunity to speak with Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk;
• interviewed final candidates for the Public Affairs and Government Relations position;
• met with Foundation Board member Holly Cremer Berkenstadt and Mary Burke of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County;
• met with full-time faculty union president Joe Lowndes; and
• greeted our Learning to Learn Camp students as they made their final presentations.

In closing, I would like to share a quote that I’ve used in the past but bears repeating at this time of the year. It is by Ernest L. Boyer, author of College: The Undergraduate Experience in America. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. I have had this quote on the wall or in my desk during years of teaching and administration.

“When all is said and done, the central qualities that make for successful teaching are the ones that can be simply stated: command of the material to be taught, a contagious enthusiasm for the play of ideas, optimism about the potential of one’s students, and – not least – sensitivity, integrity, and warmth as a human being. At a good college this combination is present in the classroom.”

Have a great semester!

Bettsey