Milwaukee Area Technical College

Welcome to the May Issue of Communique!

We have much to celebrate as the 2008-09 academic year ends. This issue of Communique highlights a sampling of the accomplishments and special events that help make MATC an enormous regional resource. Thank you for inspiring our students, making a difference in our communities and providing opportunities for personal and professional success. Today, MATC is needed more than ever. We offer real hope and a sure path to a bright, productive future. I also want to thank the MATC community for supporting the college during our recent leadership transition and the budget challenges we face. We remain focused and resolute in continuing our mission of student success.

Vicki J. Martin, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dr. Martin Sets Innovation as Priority
Faculty, staff and students were introduced to Interim President Dr. Vicki Martin through a series of Town Hall Meetings. Each of the four campuses hosted the sessions soon after the MATC District Board appointed Dr. Martin on Feb. 19. The informal gatherings gave employees and students opportunities to ask questions and hear about her priorities for the college.

"Leadership happens at every level of the college," Dr. Martin said at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus meeting. She said she is a strong proponent of educational innovation and cited the Animation program's motion-capture technology as a leading example. MATC is only one of two colleges in the nation with this technology. For MATC to continue to take the lead on innovative technologies, Dr. Martin said limited resources must be prioritized and new funding sources vigorously pursued.

MATC is critical to the region's success now more than ever, she said. Should federal stimulus funds become available, MATC is "uniquely positioned to answer that call." She added, "Many people throughout the community are counting on us."

Dr. Martin's MATC career spans more than 20 years and includes Oak Creek Campus vice president, director of Strategic Planning and Research, and Oak Creek Campus director of Student Services.

Photo: Dr. Martin meets with faculty and staff.

Celebrate Spring Commencement May 21
The successful 2008-09 academic year ends with the spring commencement May 21, starting at 6 p.m. at the Bradley Center. About 1,500 degree, diploma and apprentice candidates will graduate. Dr. Vicki J. Martin, Interim President, will confer the degrees and diplomas. An incredibly special event for our students and their families, graduation is made even more memorable when many faculty and staff share in the achievement. All are encouraged to attend and celebrate with our spring class of 2009 and their families.

Photo: Candidates celebrate at a recent MATC commencement.

Gearing Up for a Smart ReStart
With much buzz surrounding the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, MATC is actively preparing effective ways to use stimulus resources through our Smart ReStart initiative. We're reviewing and streamlining programs and services to help students gain easy, fast access. Vice President Theresa Barry and her staff are creating more efficient entry and admissions processes. Interim Provost Evonne Carter is working closely with deans and associate deans to identify and expand training opportunities to ensure that job applicants can develop the right skills for re-entry into the workforce. Short-term certificate programs will better align with technical diploma and associate degree programs.

Curriculum modifications include new programs in several key areas including water technologies and alternative energy applications. These programs will provide the technical skills for innovative career directions that promise new jobs. MATC also is partnering with the HIRE Center for dislocated worker services and the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) to effectively plan and implement training efforts for jobs in the local labor market. The Milwaukee 7 (also known as M7) is coordinating these efforts across southeastern Wisconsin, connecting our students to career opportunities as they become available.

Encourage Students to Register Now for Summer, Fall
With registration now underway for the summer and fall semesters, please encourage your students to register early -- especially before they leave for summer break. Program students also are encouraged to meet with their faculty program advisor before registering. Program advisors are program students' best resources for course and career information. Among the advantages of early registration: students can secure the classes they need to stay on track for graduation at the best times and campuses for their schedules. Early registration also helps the college better plan for the new semester.

Photo: Students are encouraged to register now for the summer and fall semesters.

Students Open Portfolios May 7
Each year, MATC Graduate Portfolio Night attracts hundreds of employers, students, faculty, staff, community partners and other visitors to see project work by our talented students from 30 programs. This year the crowds will fill Discovery World from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, to view some of the best work of our May 2009 degree and diploma graduates. Graphic Design major Megan Deau's design for the event invitation was selected as the top entry in the annual student contest for Portfolio Night.

Photo: Our students showcase their project work at Portfolio Night.

New Catalogs on Campus
The 2009-10 catalog has arrived on our campuses, filled with important program, course and student service information. Our major annual academic publication, the catalog serves multiple purposes for prospective and current students. In addition to the traditional print version, our Printing Services department has the capability to put the publication on CD, increasing its portability and access.

Apprentice Banquet Honors Graduates and Partners
We honored our 2008 apprentice graduates at the annual Apprentice Banquet, April 8 at the Italian Community Center. Graduates, employers and our partners in skilled trades attended. The event especially recognizes apprentice alumni, who are already making contributions to their professions as new journey workers. We also honored our apprentice partners who provide career opportunities and guidance. Honored this year are Distinguished Service Award winner Pamela Fendt, director of the Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Coalition; and Civic Apprenticeship Award winners Anthony Rainey, president, Local 469; Pamela Smitala, executive chef, Blackwolf Run; William Hoepner, Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 and Elise Garrett, manager, Martha's Salon.

Photo: Interim Provost Evonne Carter presents the Apprentice Academic Award to Kevin Kelnhofer, a Tool and Die Making apprentice graduate and an apprentice at Alliance Tool and Machining.

Students Win Awards and Recognition
MATC students received well-deserved local and national recognition recently. The Media Communications Association International Milwaukee Chapter presented its first Student Video Cirque Showcase awards to three second-year Television and Video Production students: Joe Neighbours, Jim Seinmetz and Steve Van Plew. Program instructional chair Kevin Pulz praised the students, saying, "To have their work evaluated and judged as being of high-quality and superior technical standards by industry professionals is very gratifying and well-deserved."

The MATC Times student newspaper won the fifth-place Best of Show award from the Associated Collegiate Press. Accounting major Alexis Scheel was the editor of the issue judged. Times advisor and Printing instructor Bob Hanson said outstanding student writing, photos and graphics along with quality printing "makes the paper the award winner that it is."

Nursing Grads/Spouses Featured in Publication
December 2008 Nursing graduates Jennifer and Jeremiah (Jeremy) Brady were featured in the March 2009 edition of Nursing Matters. The Bradys are now enrolled in UW-Madison's bachelor of science nursing program.

MATC Fuels Green Power Knowledge at Summit
Every year in March, MATC proves its leadership and innovation in green technologies when it hosts the ever-growing Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit. This year's event attracted about 2,000 participants to learn about renewable energy, sustainability, energy efficiency, social responsibility, green energy and other related topics. Keynote speakers included Gov. Jim Doyle and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies director James Hansen. MATC Natural Sciences instructor Dr. George Stone co-chaired the conference. Faculty, staff and district board members were featured speakers or led sessions throughout the conference, including Lauren Baker, Fred Royal, Dr. Vicki Martin, Mike Kuehnl, Dr. Dave Turner, John Stilp, Dr. Joe Jacobsen, Dr. Michael Rosen, Dr. Michael Townsend and Dr. Pablo Cardona. The final day's sessions were held at our Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing at the Oak Creek Campus. Our exhibit at the event was an informational and visual standout, highlighting many of our green initiatives including new certificate programs.

Photo: Energy Summit keynote speaker James Hansen captivated a large crowd at the MATC-hosted event.

Technology Shines at 'Opening Doors' Videoconference
MATC and Shanghai Dianji University in China completed a bold step into technology-based learning and understanding March 24. We held a live, 90-minute multimedia cultural exchange and get-acquainted session with students, faculty and staff from our two institutions. The two schools have several similar technical programs, and students share many of the same dreams, goals and concerns. Economic challenge, a global issue, was a topic of discussion among students who attended the program. It was held at 8 a.m. Milwaukee time, 11 hours earlier than at Shanghai Dianji. The project stems from an Innovation Grant that the college received. Project leader Anthony Aveni, Television and Video Production, said the technology was nearly flawless, enabling a clear video image and scant delay in the audio. Dr. Yan Wang, Research, served as the interpreter. Others involved in the project include Dr. David Turner, dean of Technology and Applied Sciences; Jim Stepp, Distance Learning; and Kevin Mulvenna, Pre-College Education. Dr. Turner visited the university as part of an international conference on technical education. That visit was the start of what evolved into this exchange. Stay tuned for more targeted educational videoconferences in the future.

Photo: Students, faculty and staff participate in the China videoconference.

A Delicious Five-Star Event
Our hospitality programs and students will benefit from the runaway success of the recent Five Star Evening, a culinary and wine pairing fundraiser that attracted 420 guests to the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. Guests sampled international foods and wines while raising more than $18,000 for the MATC Foundation's Five Star Scholarship Fund supporting the Culinary Arts, Baking Production, Meeting and Event Management, Special Event Management and Hotel/Hospitality Management programs. Students, faculty and staff coordinated the event and served as chefs, wait staff, planners, greeters and more. Our industry partners stepped forward with major donations to defer the event's costs. In addition to serving as a fundraiser, Five Star also highlights the quality of our programs and the talents of our students. Special thanks to Dr. Richard Busalacchi, Business Division associate dean. A long list of individuals and departments made all of MATC shine brightly for this major event.

Photo: Our students and culinary faculty and staff prepared and served numerous culinary delights as part of a fundraiser for the programs.

Budget Discussions Address Shortfall
As we prepare for the 2009-10 budget, administration, faculty and staff are meeting to address a projected budget shortfall of $19 million. Daily discussions focus on the issues and possible solutions. It's crucial for us to explore various ways to develop a balanced budget, as we cannot control some important budget factors such as equalized property values. We appreciate everyone's commitment to fiscal responsibility while continuing to provide students with a top-quality college education.

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Accounting Student Volunteers Help Hundreds
Accounting students, faculty and MATC staff volunteers helped hundreds of people file their 2008 tax returns at the Downtown Milwaukee and Oak Creek campuses. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance annual community service project, now in its 26th year, is a free service to district residents who earn less than $54,000 annually. The service was available on scheduled days and times through April 14. The electronically filed returns are checked and verified by MATC Accounting program faculty members. Through the VITA program, our students practice real-life accounting skills while benefiting the community.

Photo: Accounting student volunteers work with community members to help e-file their 2008 tax returns.

New Welcome Center Opens Doors
We opened the Downtown Milwaukee Campus Welcome Center in April -- a new one-stop hub for prospective and current students. Located in an extensively refurbished area on the first floor of the Student Center, the Welcome Center will be a highly visible starting point and information source. New and current students alike will benefit from comprehensive services including 30 dedicated computer stations for completing admissions, registration and financial aid applications; class and program information and more. Student Services staff will provide personal assistance. The goal is to answer student questions and deliver needed services. Registrar Sarah Adams said the Welcome Center is designed to deliver major student services in one location. Adams said it has been months in the planning and is a response to student needs. A campuswide open house is planned for May 6.

Photo: The highly visible and student-friendly Welcome Center is now open at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus.

Partners Event Honors Bostik, Inc. and Milwaukee Foundation
We are pleased to recognize longtime MATC supporters Bostik, Inc. and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation through the 2009 Partners in Excellence Award. Both were honored at the MATC Foundation's annual student scholarship recognition event March 31. Community partners are essential, especially as we serve more students with ever-limited resources. Our partners provide student scholarship opportunities, graduate placement and technology support. Bostik, Inc. and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation have stepped up in a big way for many years, helping our students succeed. Bostik, Inc. supports the Chemical Technician program and funds student scholarships. Many MATC students in a variety of programs receive Greater Milwaukee Foundation administered scholarships.

Photo: Foundation Executive Director Karen Coy-Romano with Partners in Excellence honorees Doug Janssen (left), representing the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Jeff Merkt, representing Bostik, Inc.

Stormers Earn State Crown
Congratulations to the MATC women's basketball team for winning the Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association championship. The Stormers and Coach Brandon Dean beat UW-Waukesha, 83-59, Feb. 22 in the title game. It was MATC's first women's basketball championship in the 32-year history of the WJCAA.

College Awarded for Collaboration and Service Learning
Our active role in a consortium of southeastern Wisconsin K-16 educators helped to secure two prestigious statewide awards for collaborative and service learning excellence. MATC was part of a team recognized by the Department of Public Instruction for outstanding collaboration between K-12 and higher education. A small group of this team also was awarded the Governor's Recognition Award for Excellence in Service Learning and Partnership. The governor's award honored work in the Environmental Survival Challenge, which partnered MATC with CBOs and middle-school students in a three-week learning experience in water quality, alternative energy use and environmental sustainability. Special congratulations to faculty members Suzanne Goodrich and Eva Hagenhofer, and Associate Dean Dr. Courtney Marlaire, for their work on the collaborative projects.

Our service learning efforts also earned MATC a place on the 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Officials Hear Why Retraining Matters
Our enrollments include a marked increase in dislocated workers. Elected state officials heard their stories as part of a public discussion on the need for stimulus resources to help retrain the unemployed workforce. Held at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus in February, MATC instructors offered compelling first-hand classroom experiences of how MATC is a catalyst for new opportunity. Four state assembly representatives participated: Pedro Colon (8th district), Cory Mason (62nd), Mike Sheridan (44th) and Barbara Toles (17th). Rep. Toles praised the Wisconsin Technical College System for assisting dislocated workers, especially in a challenging economy.

Photo: Roger Hinkle, manager of the HIRE Center, speaks at a hearing attended by local elected officials on the need for retraining through available stimulus resources. The event was held at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus.

Staff Notes
Congratulations to Health Occupations Dean Dessie Levy for being nominated for the U.S. Postal Service "Women Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee" award.

Congratulations as well to Technology and Applied Sciences Dean Dr. David Turner for his nomination for the Werner Kubsch Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Education.

We welcome new Associate Vice President of Human Resources Donna Goodwin to MATC. Most recently Vice President of HR at Fiserv in Brookfield, Donna began here March 23. She has had several connections to MATC throughout her extensive professional career, including service on business program advisory committees. Please wish Donna the best in her important new role for the college.

Photo: Dean Dessie Levy

Administrative Restructuring
Three administrative personnel changes were made in early March, in the wake of Dr. Vicki Martin being named interim president.

Dr. Evonne Carter is interim provost, with responsibilities for the academic divisions.

Barb Cannell is interim associate provost. She has responsibilities for student success and faculty development initiatives.

Dr. Terry Firkins is the interim director of Articulation and Transfer, with responsibilities for credit transfer and the Quality Review Process.

Please congratulate them and wish them success in their new assignments.

Photo: Dr. Terry Firkins

Wellness Update: An Ounce of Prevention
A message from Anne Sheridan, wellness coordinator

The phrase, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is so true when it comes to our health. It is easier, safer and more cost effective to prevent diseases than it is to manage or cure them. Many medical conditions can be prevented or controlled with lifestyle choices and changes. Did you know that excessive abdominal fat places individuals at an increased risk for developing chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure (HBP), high cholesterol and coronary artery disease? Chronic conditions are long-lasting.

A claims report from Quantum Health (MATC's Case Management/Advocacy program that is part of the MATC PPO health plans) noted that 40% (587 people) of those in MATC's PPO plan identified themselves as having a chronic condition. This is almost double Quantum's normal insured group average of 23%. Many chronic conditions can be prevented, or even reversed, with proper nutrition, exercise and weight management.

It is important to know where you are doing well, but also the areas needing improvement (blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, quit smoking, etc.). Having an annual physical and appropriate preventive screenings is critical. Self-care is the first step toward better health. Caring for yourself by changing what is in your control makes a difference. Take advantage of activities and workshops through the MATC Wellness Program.

Here's to better health!

- Anne Sheridan, RN, BSN, wellness coordinator

Anne Sheridan

Communique is a monthly online newsletter of Milwaukee Area
Technical College. For story suggestions, please contact
Dan Reszel, coordinating editor.