MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Believe it or not…it’s March already! That means our mid-semester convocation is right around the corner (Friday, March 13). Please check the CETL website later this week for the full convocation schedule and offerings.

Smart Future Campaign
The Smart Future Campaign has received a wonderful challenge grant from the full-time Faculty Union-Local 243. The Union’s goal is to provide a financial incentive that will lead to 100 percent participation by individual faculty. The match will be worth $22,000 if fully met by faculty gifts. Special thanks to Union President Joe Lowndes and members of the Forum for developing this innovative gift to support the campaign, in addition to their previous endowment commitment at the beginning of the campaign. Here’s some more good news. Donate to Smart Future by March 11 and you’ll have a chance to win a pair of Evening of Good Taste tickets!

Thailand Visitors
On Tuesday, March 3, we’ll be hosting a visiting delegation from Thailand. The visit is being coordinated by International Education Coordinator Geoff Bradshaw. Delegates, including the presidents of both the Community College Administration-Thailand and the Wisconsin Alumni Thailand Foundation, will discuss possibilities for student exchange and other collaborative efforts. 

PAT Meeting 
Don’t forget…the next President’s Advisory Team meeting is this Friday, March 6, from 8-9 a.m. in room 129C (Truax Cafeteria lower level). Faculty, staff and students are welcome to observe the meeting.

MATC Marvels
When I talk to students and hear about their favorite teachers, I also ask them to tell me about anyone at MATC who has especially helped them or been kind to them. Here are the names mentioned to me most recently:
Corey Helser, Mitby Theater
John “Luke� Matthews, anthropology
David Zentner, commercial art

More MATC Marvels
Madison Area Technical College is the only American Bar Association approved paralegal program in the 12-county district served by the college! The ABA in Chicago announced the approval this week. MATC’s two-year associate degree Paralegal program prepares students for highly responsible entry-level positions as paralegals or legal assistants. Congratulations to Anne Schacherl, Fran Moritz and Turina Bakken for all their hard work.

Highlights of my week:
• met with MATC alum Mark Schmitz of ZD Studios;
• participated in the Downtown Madison Inc. and the DeForest Area School District’s Strategic Planning sessions;
• attended the WTCS Marketing Consortium meeting; and
• congratulated students at their Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony.

In closing, here is a quote to remind everyone why we’ve chosen a career in education:

“You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.�

Woodrow Wilson

Thank you for all you do for our students!

Bettsey