MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

It’s snowy and cold outside—but inside—we’re thinking spring! Today is the first day of the spring semester and we’re excited our students are back on campus. At last check, our full-time enrollment was up 3 percent! We’re hopeful that number will continue to go up as more data comes in.

Convocation
I want to thank everyone who helped with Convocation. We’re excited about our Facilities Master Plan and appreciate your feedback. Just a reminder, you can watch the entire Convocation on our website. On a side note, I’m happy to say Patrick Barlow is recovering well from his bypass surgery. Patrick tells us he’s feeling great and is now working out on a treadmill and doing some cycling. We wish him a speedy recovery.

New Look
You’ve probably noticed a few changes at the Truax campus. We’re happy to announce the UW Credit Union’s MATC branch is now open. Also, we have beautiful simulated wooden floors outside the elevators on the second and third floors. More improvements are ahead. Facilities will be replacing the carpet in those same areas during spring break.

Smart Future Campaign
Congratulations to Linda Parrish. She’s the big winner of the Smart Future Campaign’s vacation giveaway. Linda teaches anatomy and physiology at the Reedsburg campus. She’s still deciding where she wants to take her free trip (hopefully somewhere warm). It’s still not too late to contribute to the Smart Future Campaign. At last check we were at 54 percent participation. Our goal is 100 percent!

Jam the Gym!
Jam the Gym was a big success on and off the court. I was part of a large crowd that cheered both the men and women’s teams to victory. Thanks to the Athletic Department and the Foundation for putting together a fun event that brings many of our alumni back to campus.

Highlights of my week:
• welcomed new employees Omar Abdi, enrollment center; Renee Alfano, student life; Dennis Baskin, associate dean-business; Sarah Cunningham-Bannon, math instructor; Karen Jennings, business tech instructor; Maggie Jungwirth, graphic artist; Kerri Kliminski, practical nursing instructor; Jennie May, data support technician; Laury Schmidt, student support-health; Rachel Schuetz, medical assistant instructor; Angela Snelling, program specialist-agriscience and technologies; Cynthia Treige-Onofrey, learner success; and Jeanne Wellman, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning;
• attended the state legislative inauguration and talked with Governor Doyle;
• met with the president of the Mortenson Investment Group;
• spoke to our college community at convocation;
• dropped in at all Facilities Master Planning breakouts;
• attended the Learner Success Assembly where Terry Webb did a wonderful job of explaining our current situation;
• attended the UW men’s basketball game with a district board trustee;
• attended The Business Forum’s health panel discussion;
• met a representative from the Community Colleges for International Development, Inc.;
• attended the Intercultural Council meeting;
• attended the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee meeting;
• participated in the WTCS Presidents monthly meeting; and
• attended Jam the Gym on Saturday.

As we begin a new semester, here is a quote by Norman Vincent Peale, for us to reflect as well as our students:

“Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.

Have a great semester!

Bettsey