MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The preliminary numbers are in for the Continuing Program Fall Student Registration campaign—and they are impressive! Registration is up nearly 45 percent compared to last year at this time. This was a real team effort. Kudos to the Enrollment Center, Student Development Center, Programs and Activities Council, and the Fall 2009 Registration Team for making this campaign such a wonderful success.

Help MATC Fire Victim
As you may or may not be aware, Tonya Vertein’s (fiscal support, office of controller) apartment suffered heavy smoke and water damage as a result of a fire which broke out in the building where she was currently residing. If you would like to help Tonya replace household items, please contact Mick Conners at 246-6360.

Condolences
I’m sad to inform you of the passing of two of our MATC family. Longtime instructor Dr. Carston McKay died this past Thursday. She taught psychology at MATC for 25 years. Another longtime employee, Mel Seamans, passed away on Friday. Mel started working at MATC in 1967. He served as Area Coordinator at the Fort Atkinson campus from 1980-89, and most recently worked part-time in Technology Services at DTEC. We send our condolences to their families.

An Evening of Good Taste
Bon appétit! This year’s “An Evening of Good Taste� was another big success. Nearly 250 people took part in the culinary fundraiser, which featured “the culture of cuisine.� All proceeds benefit MATC Culinary Arts Program student scholarships and learning experiences. Congratulations to everyone in the Culinary program and thank you to faculty and staff who worked so hard to put it together.

Administrative Professionals Week
This is Administrative Professionals Week. A number of events are scheduled to honor the college’s administrative professionals. The events are funded by MATC’s full- and part-time faculty unions. We want to thank our administrative professionals for everything they do! We could not stay open without them!

Earth Day
Today is Earth Day (April 22). This past week MATC held a number of earth-friendly events, including a free bike clinic and earth service day at nearby Carpenter-Ridgeway Park. Here’s a simple way you can help celebrate Earth Day. Bring your own mug /cup along when you buy coffee or soft drinks at the cafeteria. It will help save trees and landfill space!

MATC Pow Wow
It’s back! Don’t miss the beautiful tradition and pageantry of the Native American Pow Wow this Saturday (April 25) in the Redsten Gym. There will be music, dance, food and a variety of vendors. The doors open at 10 a.m., with the Grand Entries at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

MATC Marvels
Here are some names of college instructors and staff recently mentioned to me by students:
Marty Richards, English
Rocio Martinez, counselor
John Spohn, fire service
Stephen Hauser, athletic director
Julia Haseleu, psychology
Gerald Mahun, civil engineer
Dennis James was mentioned by a faculty member as the most valuable person on campus to the instructors. He is both accessible and responsive when it comes to Blackboard.

More MATC Marvels
I would like to acknowledge Karen Romanowski, Scott Beard and Becky Baumbach. Last Saturday, they presented the Learning Systems Quality Improvement Process (LSQIP) methodology at the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities annual conference.

Highlights of my week:
• met with Matthew Meier, development project manager with the Alexander Company;
• gave a college update at a meeting of the MATC Foundation Board;
• listened to a presentation by Darcy Luoma, director of Senator Kohl’s Madison office, who spoke to our College Council group about budget and funding issues;
• participated in a meeting of the Clements Group Advisory Team comprised of presidents and chancellors to discuss funding in a difficult economy and the unmet needs of community and technical colleges across the country;
• participated in a WTCS President’s meeting; and
• attended “An Evening of Good Taste.â€?

In closing, here is another quote from, Caught in the Middle: America’s Heartland in the Age of Globalism, which College Council is reading. This quote reinforces our technology advancements and flexible learning opportunities here at the college:

“But as Edwin Parker, a telecommunications expert, has written, ‘Communities not connected to our emerging broadband network will suffer the same economic fate as many communities that were bypassed by the telephone network, the railroad or the Interstate highway system.’ They’re being bypassed again, by the technology that will build the future.�

Bettsey