MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

This is the time of the year when we get to see at least some of the fruits of our labor.  Congratulations and thanks to all of you for the awesome results and all that you do for your students to prepare them for their careers and lives. Here are just three examples from last week:

• Eight of our marketing students were among the top winners at the 48th Annual International Career Development Conference
 
• Remarkable student work on display at the 2009 Portfolio Show

• Nearly 1,200 high school students were at the Truax campus this past Thursday to learn more about careers in Auto, Welding and a number of other programs

I know that there are many others, but these came to mind as I sit here on Friday evening putting my message together.

Swine Flu
We continue to keep a close eye on the H1N1 virus (swine flu). I want you to know we’re doing everything we can to keep you informed and safe. We have set up an informative web page with answers to your H1N1 questions. We’re also working closely with public health officials to monitor the situation and take any necessary precautions.

Celebrations
A big “thank youâ€? to everyone who helped with the MATC Cookouts! Even though the weather forced us to move inside at Truax–everything looked great. We have another celebration this week. The Retirement Reception will be held this Thursday (May 7) from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Truax Student Lounge. We hope you can stop by and wish our retirees good luck.

Free Concert
Not too many things are actually free in life—but here’s something that is! The MATC Community Jazz Band and Municipal Band are putting on a free concert this Saturday (May 9) in the Mitby Theater. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!
 
President’s Listening Sessions on Facilities Master Plan
Don’t forget about the listening sessions on the Facilities Master Plan. They begin today (please see schedule below). We have set up a special live stream for you to watch the listening sessions. Your feedback is important. Please send your Facilities Master Plan questions to Nancy Reinhardt. They will be answered in the order they’re received. Thank you!

Monday, May 4
9-10am
Truax (Mitby Theater)
Portage (Room 107) (via web broadcast)
Reedsburg (Conference Room 130) (via web broadcast)

Monday, May 4
11am-12pm
DTEC (Room 240)

Thursday, May 7
10-11am
Cisco Teleconference
Fort Atkinson (Room 109)
Watertown (Room 138)

Don’t Miss These Important Deadlines
To help in planning for the end of the current fiscal year and to make sure transactions are recorded in the proper year—please be aware of these important deadlines. They include P-Card use, travel claims and parking reimbursements.

MATC Marvels
Here are some names of college instructors and staff recently mentioned to me by students:

Al Lehnen, Math
Matthew Guenette, English
Kevin Mirus, Math
Jessica Klehr, Architecture Tech
Jacob Eapen, Electronics

More  MATC Marvels
MATC’s Success for Veterans proposal was awarded $100,000 by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Wal-Mart Foundation. The two year project will begin July 1, 2009. MATC was one of only 20 institutions across the country to receive the funds. The grant will support efforts to create online veterans-specific orientation programs, expand on-campus veterans service centers, enhance prospective student outreach efforts, and increase capacity for counseling and psychological services. Congratulations to Tim Jacobson, Michael Shumway, Elaine Wilkinson, Amy Brown, Ed Clarke, Dana Maya and Anne Scott.

The American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) granted continued full accreditation to our program. Congratulations to David Shonkwiler, John Stransky, Kay Bradley, Jane Clark, Andrea Foley, CC Sheldon, Bob Taylor, Jim Topel, Laurie Angell, Melissa Hayden, Teri Raffel and everyone else involved in the program!
 
Highlights of my week:
• participated in a Presidents Association subcommittee meeting which was hosted at our campus;
• recognized those employees who participated in the Smart Future Campaign at a reception held in their honor;
• met with the PSRP Union Management Team;
• met with our Smart Future Campaign consultant;
• visited with a major college donor; and
• represented the college at a Madison Symphony Orchestra concert and reception.

I leave you with a quote from President John F. Kennedy—who had this to say about the importance of education:

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream, which fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.�

Bettsey