Ginny Gnadt
Senior Public Relations Specialist
(414) 297-6770, gnadtv@matc.edu

MATC, UW-Parkside and Waukesha County Technical College Sign College Transfer Agreements for Environmental Studies and Business Programs

Waukesha County Technical College President Dr. Barbara Prindiville, MATC President Dr. Michael L. Burke, and UW-Parkside Chancellor Dr. Deborah Ford celebrate the signing of several transfer agreements on Aug. 16, 2010.

MEQUON, Wis. (Aug. 16, 2010) – Milwaukee Area Technical College, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Waukesha County Technical College signed agreements to allow the transfer of credits between the institutions in business and environmental science programs at a ceremony Aug. 16 at MATC’s Mequon Campus. Dr. Michael L. Burke, MATC president; Dr. Barbara Prindiville, WCTC president; and Dr. Deborah Ford, UW-Parkside chancellor; were present for this celebration of collaboration between the institutions.

"The first two years of education at MATC in collaboration with WCTC, combined with the additional two years at UW-Parkside, will result in well-prepared students who are ready to enter the workforce and secure family-sustaining wages," said Dr. Burke. "I am excited about the opportunities that are possible as a result of these relationships and know that our students are eager to reap the benefits of this new collaboration."

Four agreements were signed:

• WCTC students may transfer credits to enter MATC’s Environmental Health and Water Quality Technology associate degree program.
  
• MATC students with an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Environmental Health and Water Technology may transfer credits to enter UW-Parkside’s Bachelor of Science program in Sustainable Management.
  
• MATC students with an A.A.S. degree in Environmental Health and Water Technology may transfer credits to enter UW-Parkside’s Bachelor of Science program in Geosciences – Soil and Water Concentration.
  
• MATC students with an A.A.S. degree in Business Management may transfer credits to enter UW-Parkside’s Bachelor of Science program in Business Management with a major in Management Information Systems.

Much of the success of these collaborations is due to a Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant recently received by UW-Parkside. UW-Parkside’s Dr. Carmel Ruffolo has been working with the Milwaukee 7 Water Council and the region’s technical and four-year institutions to educate students in water technology, and to open a seamless path to transfer credits and further their education.

Water Council Business Development Director Claus Dunkelberg remarked, "These agreements are the beginning of an education transformation. We are identifying opportunities and training students for these opportunities. Together we can take a national and international leadership role on many emerging issues."

For more information on these or other MATC transfer credit agreements, call (414) 297-7851.

Information about MATC's Environmental Health and Water Quality Technology and Business Management programs are available at these links:

http://matc.edu/student/offerings/environmentalhealth.html
http://matc.edu/student/offerings/busiaasTransferTrack.html

More photos from the Aug. 16 ceremony can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/2frznmr