The College of Choice
Boldly challenging stereotypes, we have strived in recent years to position MATC as the college of first choice for bright, motivated and ambitious people. And it has paid off, judging from a recent satisfaction survey. Done last spring, using Noel-Levitz research tools, this was the first such survey of employees and the second time we have surveyed students.

We were the first-choice college among three out of four students surveyed, and the second choice of one-fifth. The survey found above-average satisfaction with most institutional areas. Earning highest grades: instructional access, resources and quality; ease of registration and payment; and tuition value.

Students voiced need for improvement in three critical areas: safety and security; academic advising effectiveness; and student centeredness. They exhibited spotty awareness of all the services available to them, indicating a need on our part to communicate better. It turns out that many employees share these concerns, according to the survey.

Continuous quality improvement begins with identifying and understanding the challenges. I hope we can view this survey as the start of a positive process. The full report now is being disseminated and will be the subject of broad discussion in the coming months.

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New Route North
Students now can ride a Milwaukee County Transit System bus to Mequon Campus. Negotiated as part of our participation in the UPASS program, it's an extension of route 49U, a long-established express service between UWM and the county park-and-ride lot on Brown Deer Road at I-43.

Our branch of 49U links to Mequon Campus via Brown Deer Road west, Green Bay Road north and Highland Road east. The bus stops at two park-and-ride lots: Green Bay Road and Brown Deer. Students can connect to MCTS Route 12 at the Brown Deer Park-Ride Lot. Many other links are possible via routes serving the East Side and UWM. You might have to transfer once or twice, but you can now get downtown from Mequon Campus.

This long-sought route addition comes at a perfect time, given the price of gas and the emergence of energy efficiency as a national priority. For details, please direct students to the transit system website: http://www.ridemcts.com/routes_and_schedules/pdf/491.pdf.

Discovering the MATC Advantage
Almost 100 high school counselors and teachers attended a recent MATC information day at Discovery World. We offered lots of useful information about our programs, plus suggestions on how to help students transition to college. In the process, we definitely changed hearts and minds, coming across as a dynamic, forward-looking institution. It was a major group effort. Thanks to Brunnetta Soward and her recruiters, the Office of College Events, the Marketing Department, and the many faculty and staff members who contributed.

Photo: High school teachers and counselors learned more about MATC at an information day at Discovery World.

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Farewell and Best Wishes
We all extend a fond farewell to LAS Interim Dean Dr. Deryl Davis-Fulmer, who recently accepted a top leadership position at Madison Area Technical College. Deryl becomes MATC-Madison's Associate Vice President for Learner Services. She began her exemplary career with us in 1992 as a part-time Liberal Arts instructor. During my administration she held several high-level positions. We will greatly miss her energy, creativity and dedication.

With this departure, Gloria Pitchford-Nicholas moves over from Pre-College Education to become interim dean of LAS. Pre-College Associate Dean Pat Kappel replaces Gloria in her former job, becoming interim dean of Pre-College Education. Please wish them well in their new assignments.

 Photo: Dr. Deryl Davis-Fulmer.

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Safety Day Reaches Out
Hundreds of families visited Community Safety Day on September 27 at Oak Creek Campus. More than 30 exhibitors shared expertise on a variety of topics including car seats, animal control, identity theft, fire extinguishers and home security. MATC Public Safety had a prominent presence, along with our police, fire and emergency medical services programs.

Community Safety Day reaches out to our neighbors throughout southeastern Wisconsin, also providing a venue for local agencies to connect with their local communities. Many thanks to Public Safety Director Brad Hines and Officer George Esler, Oak Creek staff Judy Brand, Caryn Dohring and Cathy Lechmaier, and College Events staff Bill Quirmbach and Brenda Vento.

Photo: Safety Day featured hand-on activities demonstrating how to stay safe in all areas of the home.

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Girl Scouts Sponsor STEM Event
On November 15, Oak Creek Campus hosts a STEM career day (science, technology, engineering and math) for middle school girls potentially interested in nontraditional jobs. Sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Southeast Wisconsin, the event will include career-building activities and allow pupils to meet women instructors working in nontraditional settings. Featured careers include architecture, manufacturing, construction, public safety and transportation. Thanks to all involved in planning and executing this highly worthy and innovative event.

Contract Extensions Approved
At a special meeting on September 18, the MATC District Board unanimously approved contract extensions with all three of our bargaining units. The current labor agreements were extended for two years, through June 30, 2011. The board also approved a salary package for non-represented employees consistent with the current fiscal year's wage increase.

I appreciate the work of all parties on this issue. The extensions allow us to focus on making MATC a world-class educational institution that empowers students, faculty and staff to realize their potential.

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Emergency Student Loans
The recent crisis on Wall Street has hit close to home. Edamerica, which provides loans for more than 100 MATC students, in September ran short of cash to meet its monthly lending commitments. With the unanimous support of the District Board, we immediately formed a plan to provide emergency loans to the affected students. Once Edamerica rebounds, it will reimburse the college. Many thanks to Al Pinckney, Theresa Barry, Michael Sargent and Janice Falkenberg for their quick action. While this situation was unsettling, I take heart in MATC's ability to react quickly and effectively.

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Students Lead Graffiti Cleanup
Law Enforcement students last month helped West Allis and West Milwaukee police clean up graffiti and spark interest in criminal justice careers. The Saturday event brought in volunteers from New Concept Self Development, Fox Point/Bayside Middle School, Girl Scout Troop 1950 and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Along with rolling up their sleeves to beautify neighborhoods, the youngsters engaged in some fun, informational activities. Thanks and congratulations to Instructor Paul Stuhmer and student organizer Marc Moonen.

Photo: Two members of the volunteer graffiti clean-up crew led by MATC students.

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Mequon Campus Up for Booster Award
Mequon Campus has been a valuable asset to north-suburban communities for 32 years and counting. In recognition, the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce and Industry has nominated the campus as the organization's 2008 Business of the Year. The award honors outstanding community outreach, partnering with business, and local involvement and services.

Photo: Mequon Campus is a finalist for a prestigious local business award.

Baker Honored for STEM Activism
At the recent annual meeting of Engineers and Scientists of Milwaukee, District Board Chairperson Lauren Baker received the President's Distinguished Service Award. It recognized her tireless advocacy of STEM initiatives (science, technology, engineering and math) in Milwaukee Public Schools, most notably in connection with Project Lead the Way. Congratulations, Lauren.

Photo: Lauren Baker.

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Moore Promotes 'Power of the Vote'
U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore recently was the first high-profile community leader to take part in the faculty-sponsored "Grass Roots" public lecture series. These periodic events will focus on local and national issues important to students. Moore talked up "the Power of the Vote" to an audience of about 200 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. The event also was broadcast live to the regional campuses. "You are our hope for the future," Moore said to the students.

Photo: U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore speaks at the first "Grass Roots" lecture series.

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Support Our Giving Campaign
Please take time now to support our Annual Giving Campaign, which runs through October 17.  This year's goals: $200,000 and 600 participants. It's a great way to give to the MPTV Friends or the MATC Foundation. You also can support a wide range of other worthy causes including Community Health Charities of Wisconsin, Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee, Hunger Relief Fund of Wisconsin, United Performing Arts Fund and United Way of Greater Milwaukee.

Phoenix Soars in National Contest
Congratulations to the staff and many student contributors of The Phoenix literary magazine. The 2008 edition earned a First Place with Special Merit award in the American Scholastic Press Association's annual magazine competition. Published annually for more than 35 years,The Phoenix features student prose, poetry, photography and art. Instructor June Roque is the advisor.

Photo: Outstanding student artwork on the cover of The Phoenix.

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We Help Fill Empty Bowls
On October 11, Oak Creek Campus hosted the 10th annual Empty Bowls fund-raiser. About 2,000 people attended, donating more than $35,000 to feed the hungry in Milwaukee. We can all be proud of MATC's involvement. Culinary Arts associate degree and Adult High School students took an active volunteer role, along with faculty, Stormer athletic team members and the Criminal Justice Student Organization. AHS culinary instructor Paul Carrier's class prepared 30 gallons of donated soup and worked the serving line. Paul incorporates the activity into his course curriculum. We provided great service on behalf of a wonderful cause.

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Staff Notes
Congratulations to Dr. David Turner, dean of Technology and Applied Sciences, who in early October presented a major research paper on technical colleges and globalization at an international conference in China. Shanghai University held the conference as part of its 55th anniversary celebration. Thanks to his knowledge of technical education worldwide, Dr. Turner is one of our best ambassadors.

MPTV's Dan Jones is an inaugural inductee of the Milwaukee Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The honor recognizes professionals who have given 25 or more years to the industry and made significant local contributions. Dan's four fellow inductees place him in some elite company: Mike Anderson, WISN-TV 12; Vince Condella, WITI-TV 6; Mike Jacobs, WTMJ-TV 4; and Jill Geisler, formerly WITI news director, currently with the Poynter Institute. After an early career in commercial broadcast news, including eight years at TV-6, Dan joined MPTV in 1995.

Photo: Dan Jones.

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Wellness Update: Breast and Prostate Cancer
A message from Anne Sheridan, wellness coordinator:

Cancer screening for men and women
Besides skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. As with all cancers, early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes. Appropriate screening can detect these diseases before symptoms arise.

Prostate cancer
Men have a one-in-six chance of developing prostate cancer at some time during their lives. Prostate screening should begin at age 50. This includes a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Men at high risk should begin the screening at age 45. This population includes African-Americans and any man with a close relative (brother or father) who had prostate cancer before the age of 65. Having a brother or father with prostate cancer more than doubles the chances of developing it.

Although breast cancer occurs mainly in women, men also are at risk. Women have a risk factor of about one-in-eight. For men, the chance is 1-in-1,000.  Assessment procedures are similar across genders.

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening mammograms for women starting at age 40, along with a clinical breast exam (performed by a health care professional). For women at higher risk (family history of breast cancer), mammograms should begin at age 30. During women's 20s and 30s, the clinical breast exam should occur every three years. Self breast exams should start when women are in their 20s.

Among the breast cancer risks for women:

• Over age 50
• Having a close blood relative with breast &/or ovarian cancer
• Overweight
• One or more alcoholic drinks a day
• Never having children, or the first one after age 30
• Using hormone replacement therapy for five or more years

Make sure to have your yearly physicals and appropriate screenings. If not for you, do it for your family and friends. For more information, visit http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Photo: Anne Sheridan.

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