MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Next week we will begin a dialogue on a potential new college name. The series of discussions will be posted on MATC Matters in a designated column so you can follow the progress of the process. I am really looking forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing what we are learning from others about the implications of a new name.

Annual Performance Assessments
As a reminder to Leadership Council, don’t forget that performance assessment of administrators is due by Tuesday, June 30 and evaluations of PSRP are due on their anniversary date.

MATC Foundation
The June 14th “Dining for a Differenceâ€? fundraiser was a huge success! The Madison Club Foundation graciously hosted the culinary experience to benefit the MATC Foundation’s Smart Future Campaign. Nearly 120 people bought tickets to the special four-course dinner, which featured Bravo TV’s 2008 Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard and Madison Club Executive Chef Daniel Fox. Dessert was prepared by MATC’s own Master Baker Punky Egan. Although we have not yet received final numbers from the Madison Club, we estimate the dinner and silent auction netted more than $12,000 to expand access to learning for our students. A big “thank youâ€? to Turina Bakken, Bob Dinndorf, and Vicki Saffran for their work with the Madison Club staff, and to David and Stephanie Dean, Jack Hart, John Johnson, and Paul Short for contributing to the silent auction.

The MATC Foundation is excited to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the William T. Evjue Foundation, which is the Charitable Extension of The Capital Times. The grant will provide much needed scholarship support for the 2009-2010 academic year, specifically new student scholarships. Thanks to Bob Dinndorf for his endless commitment in seeking funds for our students.

National Science Foundation Grant
Here’s some more exciting news! MATC has been notified by the National Science Foundation that it has been awarded a $900,000 grant for its Advanced Technological Education Program. The project is called “Consortium for Resources in Renewable Energy Technologies.” The 36-month federal grant begins September 1, 2009. MATC will expand its popular renewable energy certificate, add a 15-credit option that eliminates the need to take face-to-face courses, and will offer Train-the-Trainer Academies to grow the next generation of renewable energy teachers. Congratulations to Ken Walz, Barb Anderegg, and Paul Morschauser for their work in the development of the proposal.

MATC Marvels
Here are some names of college instructors recently mentioned to me by students:
H. W. Hausler, chemistry
John “Jack� Hart, hospitality/tourism
Joel Ryan, history
John “Luke� Matthews, anthropology
Bradley McDowell, psychology

More MATC Marvels
I received a copy of a letter addressed to Corey Helser from an external stakeholder complimenting him and his staff, in particular
Matt Breaux, for the excellent care and attention they received during their event at MATC.

I have just learned that Phil Gasper, Coordinator of Part-time Faculty, was a contributor to a recently published book, The Encyclopedia of Race and Crime. Phil’s three contributions included a piece on IQ, a piece on Disproportionate Incarceration, and a piece on Disproportionate Arrests.

Congratulations to interior design instructor Tiffany Esser whose students took first place at the recent Student GREENlife Competition at NeoCon World’s Trade Fair in Chicago!

Congratulations also to Scott Ritter, disability resource services, for completing the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute.

Highlights of my past two weeks:
• completed annual performance appraisals for my executive team and office staff;
• met with representatives from JJR, ZD Studios and Strang to discuss strategies for rolling out the Facilities Master Plan to our stakeholders;
• visited with the Oregon School District Board along with MATC District Board trustee Jim Cavanaugh to talk about enhancing our services and partnerships with the district (this is one of a series of board-to-board outreach visits we are making to every one of our 40 school districts);
• attended a meeting of the Collaboration Council where featured presenters included Neal Peirce, chairman of The Citistates Group, retired Wisconsin Chief Labor Economist Terry Ludeman, and Dan Viste, owner of the Old Feed Mill (the Collaboration Council is a group of 56 regional leaders who meet twice annually to engage regional stakeholders in the process of developing a regional culture – Jon Bales, from our board of trustees, serves on the steering committee);
• attended Madison Rotary where MATC chemistry instructor Ken Walz spoke about the work that MATC and UW-Madison students have achieved in Costa Rica installing off-grid solar electric systems for low income agricultural workers;
• attended the district board meeting;
• traveled to Nicolet Technical College in Rhinelander to participate in the WTCS presidents’ annual 2-day retreat;
• greeted participants at MATC’s “Summer Institute for International Education: Understanding Contemporary China,� a five-day professional development course coordinated by international program planner Geoff Bradshaw;
• met with women leaders from the community;
• met with Darren Baty, associate vice president, and Cathy Krieger, human resource generalist with the Hy-Vee grocery and pharmacy chain that will be opening businesses on Madison’s east and west sides in the near future;
• attended College Council;
• participated in a conference call of the WTCS Statewide Marketing Executive Team;
• met the candidates for the position of Child and Family Center Manager;
• reported on MATC at the monthly Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce board meeting;
• met coaching author John Crnokrak, author of “How to be First, Daring and Different� and “Be the Leader of the Pack;� and
• attended the “Re-visioning Two Year Colleges in the Midwest� colloquium at UW-Madison and met personally with President Barack Obama’s Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter. Terry Webb and Ed Clarke were also on the program.

Reflecting on the many changes taking place worldwide, nationwide, statewide, locally, and right here at the college, brought to mind this quote by Jennifer James:

“Learning how to respond to and master the process of change – and even to excel at it – is a critical leadership skill for the 21st century. Constant, rapid change will be a fact of life for all of us.�

Bettsey