Dr. Michael L. Burke at the kick-off
event for MATC's Centennial celebration.

New Cuisine Space Will Serve Enhanced Learning Experiences
 A transformation is underway in former office space on the first floor of the Downtown Milwaukee Campus Main Building, site of the new Cuisine Restaurant and its teaching/learning labs. The prime location fronts Sixth Street and will increase Cuisine's visibility, accessibility and campus presence while providing Culinary Arts program students and faculty modern facilities that will emulate all aspects of a contemporary restaurant operation. Work began in December, completion is expected this spring and the restaurant may have a limited opening in summer. Watch for the grand opening at the start of the fall semester.
The new space will attract more patrons and the upgraded facilities will better prepare students for the rigors of the industry, according to Dr. Richard Busalacchi, associate dean of Business and Media/Creative Arts. Cuisine's current space, in Room M628, dates back some 50 years. It was originally named Gourmet 6. The first-floor Cuisine and corresponding labs cover Rooms M100 - M106. It will be about 800 square feet larger than the M628 complex and will seat 73 patrons. Visibility will be a key feature. Banks of windows will face the hallway, allowing those who walk past to see into the dining space. Diners will also have a view into the Cuisine kitchen, much like a modern commercial restaurant. To help ensure the new Cuisine meets high industry standards, Joe Bartolotta, president and owner of the Bartolotta Restaurants, and key members of his staff provided no-cost consultant services on the project. They worked with MATC faculty and staff to design and develop the restaurant and kitchen/lab areas to maximize teaching, learning and the customer experience. Joe Bartolotta is a member of the Culinary Arts program advisory committee.
"These improvements and innovations are being done with the goal of enhancing student learning and preparing them for careers," Busalacchi said.
MATC faculty and staff were instrumental in helping to create the new Cuisine space. Special thanks to MATC Culinary Arts faculty members John Reiss and Kathy Thompson and Educational Assistant Shelly McKay. Special thanks as well to the staff of Construction Services.

Photo: Creating a new teaching/learning and customer space for Cuisine Restaurant is underway at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus Main Building. The first-floor prime location will increase accessibility and visibility of the student-run facility.

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Healthcare Services Management Offers
Three Paths to an Associate Degree
Students who enroll in MATC's new Healthcare Services Management associate degree program can choose from three career paths. They can earn technical diplomas through two of the paths -- Health Unit Coordinator or Phlebotomy -- on their way to completing the degree. The third option provides nine credits of advanced standing for students with professional health care experience or a previously earned degree or diploma. No matter which path they choose, students must complete 52 core credits. They will gain the skills to become members of health care administrative teams, supervising support staff and ensuring efficient workflow while adhering to quality standards. The 68-credit program begins in August.
See matc.edu/student/offerings/HealthcareServicesMgmt.html for details.

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New Program Helps Students and Alumni 'Get That Job'
The JOBshop's January 12 targeted job fair introduced 25 students and alumni from School of Technology and Applied Sciences skilled manufacturing programs to 20 employers looking to fill job openings. Almost half of the students and alumni were called back for second interviews. These industry-specific events will be a JOBshop focus, with the goal of linking students and alumni with employers who are hiring. The new initiative, Get That Job, typically involves an employer panel, resume review, mock interviews and the targeted job fair. The next Get That Job event will be Thursday, March 1, for students and alumni of the Health Information Technology (HIT) certificate programs. Among those most instrumental in launching this innovative program are JOBshop staff members Carla Eichelberger, Mike Kuehnl and Jenny McGilligan.

Photo: The college's JOBshop is working to link program-specific MATC students and graduates with area businesses hiring for those industries. At the recent Get That Job event, graduate Anna Kelly meets Dennis Maurer, HR director of Telsmith, a company based in Mequon.

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Smart Start Sessions to Expand to Targeted Audiences
To better connect with prospective students, we have added targeted Smart Start sessions this semester for School of Health Sciences programs, high school seniors and Pre-College Education students.
The Smart Start sessions help students enroll in degree and diploma programs, provide financial aid information and schedule Accuplacer assessments, if needed. The Smart Start initiative began several years ago to help streamline the admissions/registration process, and have proven popular. They are available monthly at the Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses, and about three times per month at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. Prospective students must reserve a place at a session at least two business days before the scheduled Smart Start. Attendees must also bring their high school transcripts (and college transcripts, if transferring in credits) and pay the $20 Criminal Background Check fee, if applicable. Generally one hour in length, the Smart Start sessions for high school seniors (March 23 and June 7) will be five to six hours and provide important information for first-time college students. It will also include time to complete the Accuplacer. For a Smart Start schedule, visit the Smart Start web page or contact provinek@matc.edu.

Photo: School of Health Sciences programs now have targeted Smart Start sessions scheduled throughout the spring semester. At the fall semester Open House, Dr. Nancy Vrabec, associate dean, School of Health Sciences (seated left) and Nursing faculty member Cheryl Watt meet with a prospective student.

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Accounting Students Gain Career Experience Through Tax Prep Work
MATC Accounting program students are providing no-cost basic personal tax preparation assistance through April 14 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus and April 4 at the Oak Creek Campus. The service is available on selected days and times for those with family incomes of less than $50,000. Clients must bring wage and bank statements, identification and related documents. There is also a limit to the number of clients served per service session. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the tax preparation program at the Oak Creek Campus and the 10th anniversary at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. The volunteer student tax preparers are trained by the Internal Revenue Service and supervised by MATC instructors. The experience provides students valuable real-world career experience, a hallmark of an MATC education. Thanks to Accounting program faculty member Jim Benedum and retired Student Services staff member Bobbie Sherrod for coordinating the effort. View details at matc.edu/matc_news/2012_VITA.html.

Photo: Retired Student Services staff member Bobbie Sherrod (right)provides guidance at the college's tax preparation services for the community. MATC accounting students offer free tax preparation assistance while gaining valuable real-world experiences.

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Four-Year College Reps on Campus for Transfer Days, March 6 - 8
Representatives from about 30 statewide four-year colleges and universities will visit MATC March 6 - 8 to provide students with transfer, enrollment and general academic information. Transfer Days dates, times and campuses are:
March 6 - Mequon Campus, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (cafeteria)
March 7 - Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Student Center, second floor)
March 8 - West Allis Campus, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (cafeteria)
Most UW System colleges and area private colleges/universities will be part of the three-day event. MATC has multiple transfer opportunities with the four-year colleges that will be part of Transfer Days. A recent survey of MATC students shows that 18% are preparing for further education. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this convenient, on-campus opportunity to explore education at the bachelor's degree level and beyond.

Photo: The March 6 - 8 Transfer Days welcomes more than 20 area four-year college/university representatives to our campuses. They will engage MATC students interested in earning a bachelor's degree. 

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January Convocation Connected and Challenged Employees
The college began the January 17 spring semester convocation with an open house designed to connect faculty with valuable campus resources for their classrooms and students. Among the information stations were financial aid, tutoring, counseling, Blackboard services, ER&D, service learning and others. The day's activities also included a gathering in Cooley Auditorium and department meetings. President Michael L. Burke said he is following up last year's "Completion Challenge" (50% increase in graduation rate by 2020; see his introductory article, above) with a new challenge: "A Call for Intolerance" -- we will have zero tolerance for social injustices in our community and will continue to ensure we call out those injustices. Saying we owe it to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Burke said he will invest time in recognizing and calling attention to suffering and misery in our midst.  He also spoke about recent and expected accomplishments including:

• An increase in course completion rates for students of color
• A new Internet-based campus phone system (expected later this year)
• Important work on an application for Forward Wisconsin, an enhanced AQIP accreditation based on the Baldridge Award 
•  Implementation of a classroom-based student survey to gain insights into how we can provide better student services 

Photo: College faculty gained valuable campus resource information as part of the January 17 Convocation. Among those participating were Nursing instructors (from left) Denise Owens, Jennifer Larson, Karen Gastrau and Marilyn Hennings.

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News and Notes
The inaugural MATC Day is set for Thursday, February 16, at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. Day classes are not held; evening classes will still be in session. The day's agenda will be distributed soon. Save the date and watch your GroupWise inbox for details ... Congratulations to Michael Jenkins, Academic Services, for earning his Ph.D. ... Congratulations to District Board members Fred Royal, Jr. and Bobbie Webber and MPTV producer Everett Marshburn who will be honored at the February 24 Milwaukee Times Black Excellence Awards event. Directors Royal and Webber will receive the Public Service Award, and Marshburn will receive the Media award ... Toshiba Adams, Early Childhood Education instructor, is the new Curriculum Coordinator for ER&D. Look for professional development/recertification opportunities through this space, GroupWise and MATC social media, or email adamst3@matc.edu ... The annual Green Energy Summit is set for March 7 - 10 at the Frontier Airlines Center. Dr. George Stone, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, continues in his role as a key event coordinator. MATC is also a major sponsor of the summit that highlights and explores trends and innovations in renewable energy. The theme of this year's event is "The New Economic Wave: Green, Clean -- and Blue." See more at http://greenenergysummit.us/.

Photos: (Top) District Board members Fred Royal, Jr. (left) and Bobbie Webber. (Middle) Toshiba Adams, seen here with Culinary Arts instructor Brian Moran, is the new ER&D Curriculum Coordinator. (Bottom) A scene from last year's Green Energy Summit. This year's event is March 7 - 10.