MILWAUKEE — As businesses in the Milwaukee region strive to diversify their leadership teams, a new partnership will strengthen the pipeline of diverse, highly-skilled talent.
Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have signed an agreement that will help students more easily transfer the credits from a number of MATC two-year business and information technology (IT) associate degrees to UWM’s four-year bachelor’s degree programs in business.
At MATC, most students — 57% — are students of color. At UWM’s Milwaukee campus, 32% of students are students of color. The new connection between MATC and UWM’s Lubar School of Business links high-quality instruction, affordable two-year college tuition and the value of a four-year business degree.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our students to make a smart investment in their future — and for local businesses looking to diversify their leadership teams,” said Carl Meredith, dean of MATC’s Business & Management Pathway. “As one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in the Midwest, MATC is a great partner in building a talent pipeline that reflects our community. We are grateful to have a partner like UWM that shares our commitment to serving both students and the region.”
“We’re very excited to help students make a smooth and cost-effective transition into their four-year degree program at the Lubar School,” said Kaushal Chari, dean of UWM’s Lubar School of Business. “This agreement accomplishes two laudable goals – encouraging more students to complete their bachelor’s degree in business and growing a more diverse population of business graduates for companies in southeast Wisconsin.”
Students will be able to transfer credits to UWM four-year degrees in accounting, finance, human resources management, information technology management, marketing, and supply chain and operations management.
MATC and UWM already work together on a host of initiatives. Both are partners in the Moon Shot for Equity, which is focused on eliminating equity gaps so all students can succeed. The two also are founding partners in the M3 partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools that has successfully helped grow graduation rates and immediate enrollment to college — and is beginning to drive college-level success.
About MATC
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 131 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 26,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $689 million. Its 15 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2020 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews.