MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Fall semester is in full swing now. I hope all of you are energized for the year ahead.

Don’t forget to vote
Make your voice heard. Don’t forget to vote in the Wisconsin fall primary (Sept. 9) and encourage students to be good citizens as well. The Wisconsin State Elections Board has helpful information on its website about:

• voter & poll information

• fall elections (offices up for election, names of those who are running for offices, etc.)

One Card update
OneCard is currently available for use at Ancora (Truax), and we hope to have it available in the Truax and Downtown Education Center bookstores by the end of the month as well as the salon. Don’t forget employees receive a five percent discount when using your OneCard.

Unit planning
Well, it’s that time of year again when planning for the future becomes a major focus for us. Unit planning is taking place across the college. Plans are created for a three-year period of time and updated annually. We’ve continued to make improvements to the process to make it more meaningful and easier.

Last year, we launched a new web-based tool to help with unit planning and communication efforts. Based on survey feedback, the college has incorporated even more changes to the unit-planning database which we hope will continue to streamline the process.

As a friendly reminder, Learner Success unit plans are due October 31 and Strategic Advancement and Infrastructure Services unit plans are due November 30. Check with your supervisor for deadlines and opportunities to be involved in your unit. Training workshops are listed on the Unit Planning webpage.

New Employee Wellness program
You recently received information about the Employee Wellness Initiative called “Well Credits” in your mailboxes. This program is designed to encourage us to take ownership of our well-being by taking steps toward healthier lifestyles. As an incentive, you can earn wellness credits making you eligible for prize drawings and gift certificates. See the Employee Wellness website for more information.

Athletics Golf Outing
There is still time to sign up for the Athletics Department Golf Outing that will take place this Friday starting at noon. Take advantage of our last good days of summer while playing to benefit our student athletes.

MATC Marvels
Here are names of favorite faculty reported to me during my daily visits to students on campus:
David Shaw, science instructor
James Magruder, English instructor

Other MATC Marvels
Terrie Thorstad reports that the facilities staff did an amazing job with the Client Services remodel. “Fred Brechlin personally checked on the progress on a regular basis and made sure schedules were met. The contractor who did the work was great. They were efficient, quiet and professional during the entire remodel. Ally Adam’s work on the entire project was superb. She went above and beyond to ensure the project was completed and met our needs.”

Terrie added that the new design will improve our service to faculty, staff and students. Thanks goes to Fred, Ally, Greg Crook, Greg Bystol, Tom Helbig, Wesley Marquardt and the entire facilities staff for great service and helping to bring the project to completion.

Highlights of my week:

• together with MATC Foundation Board member Ashok Bhargava and Vice President for Learner Success Terry Webb, met with Senator Russ Feingold to discuss a new small business innovation bill he’s sponsoring;
• visited Jeanette Mowery’s protein separations lab class with Senator Feingold and talked with Lisa Seidman about stem cell research and our post-graduate biotechnology program;
• attended the Rotary Club of Madison where Roger Price was introduced as a new member;
• visited the Downtown Education Center and talked with faculty and staff;
• attended The Business Forum meeting where Jennifer Alexander talked about Thrive’s first year, the organization’s approach to regional economic stewardship, and what Thrive is doing to achieve its vision of growing the Madison region’s economy; and
• took part in the grand opening of TEAM Companies Data Center located in the Fitchburg Technology Park; and
• visited with community leaders and potential donors at three Iron Man receptions.

In closing, here is a quote from Paul van Vlissingen:

“Once we have appointed our managers, we let them reinvent the wheel…the world is changing so fast you’ll always be needing different wheels for changing terrain.”

Have a great third week of the semester!

Bettsey