MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As you know, I speak with students every day I can. During the past four years, the faculty name they have mentioned the most is Anthropology Instructor Luke Matthews. It was hard to believe that a living person could have engendered so many positive comments, that I figured I better see for myself. Last Friday I dropped in for part of Mr. Matthews’s class and found it to be just as wonderful as the students had said. Luke’s material content was fascinating, he was animated, and the student engagement was 100 percent. Thank you, Luke, and to all the rest of you for doing such a great job of teaching.

Commission on Women in Higher Ed
I’m honored to say I have accepted an invitation to serve on the Commission on Women in Higher Education (OWHE) of the American Council on Education. My three-year term begins July 1. Since 1973, the Commission has provided national leadership in the advancement of women into executive positions and campus presidencies. It also assists with the evaluation of current programs and suggests new programs for consideration.

FAQ on GroupWise Migration
GroupWise migration to Exchange/Outlook is moving forward and we would like to thank those of you who participated in the recent GroupWise Use Survey. We have put together answers to your most Frequently Asked Questions regarding the migration. If you have additional questions or concerns, please e-mail Project Manager Paula Hollenbeck.

Summer Flex Time
In case you’re wondering, we will once again be offering flex time scheduling this summer. All permanent full-time employees are eligible to participate with the consent of their supervisors. Stay tuned for more information on this summer’s schedule.

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:
David Sarocka, math
Scott Ritter, disability resources
John McLaughlin, information technology
Gashwin Saleno, electronic technology

I recently talked to a Carroll College student who, for personal reasons, enrolled at MATC this semester. The student had been going through a tough few months, but said our financial aid staff was helpful and considerate.

More MATC Marvels
Elizabeth Galewski’s short story “Out of India� has been published in The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2009, which recently hit bookstores across the country. “Out of India� also won a Solas Award. A free copy of the story is available at Travelers’ Tales. Elizabeth is a part-time instructor who teaches speechwriting and oratorical performance in the Communication and Performing Arts Department.

Highlights of my week:
• participated in a Cisco Academy WebEx conference call with the Cisco Public Sector Team along with Ken McCullough;
• attended the United Way of Dane County Board meeting;
• spoke at the WTCS All USA Team spring celebration and distributed their medals;
• met with UW-Madison staff to talk about our Cisco initiatives;
• greeted African American community leaders at the Councils of Color meeting;
• attended the district board development meeting;
• greeted international visitors from Obihiro, Japan hosted by district board trustee Josephine Oyama-Miller;
• participated on the Presidents Panel at the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit;
• attended the Vet Tech Six-Year Accreditation Site Visit Team’s exit interview;
• attended a presentation by the husband and wife team of Karl Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac, co-authors of Kingmakers—The Invention of the Modern Middle East at Vantage Point; and
• along with Mayor Dave and other community leaders, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Villager Redevelopment Project.

In closing, here’s a quote from Caught in the Middle, a book about the economic situation in the Midwest, currently being read by College Council:

“Two-year community colleges, teaching hands-on marketable skills, have emerged as perhaps the key institutions in local economies, but they are stretched tight, between the need to repair the damage done to those ill-prepared students and the demands of the rapidly changing economy.�

Bettsey