Together with UWM and MPS, MATC is committed to expanding this opportunity, making sure that every eligible student knows they belong and has a path forward after high school.
In its first year, nearly 900 Milwaukee Public Schools juniors took a simple, free step toward college at Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee through M³ (pronounced M-Cubed) Milwaukee Direct Admit.
The majority of the students — now in the early months of their senior year — are already admitted to UWM, MATC — or both. Most of those not yet admitted will receive formal acceptance simply by declaring a program or major at either institution and confirming they live in Wisconsin for in-state tuition at UWM.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the M³ partners celebrated the launch of the form for this year’s juniors: the Class of 2026. Juniors at any MPS high school can now apply to UWM or MATC in less than five minutes at mpsmke.com/directadmit.
Students simply provide their name, their MPS student ID, and their parent’s permission if they are not 18 years old. Their transcripts are sent directly to the college or colleges they select, eliminating the need for attachment, essays or letters of recommendation. The same form also allows MPS students to opt into the Universities of Wisconsin direct admissions program, opening access to most public universities across the state.
The announcement was made at MPS’ MacDowell Montessori School, a K-12 school that had the highest rate of participation in M³ Milwaukee Direct Admit’s first year.
MacDowell Principal Andrea Corona, the parent of an MPS student who completed the form, noted that it took a great deal of stress out of the college application process. MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan, a first-generation college student, echoed those themes at the launch announcement.
“At MPS, one of our core goals is to ensure every student graduates ready for college and career. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the second year of Milwaukee Direct Admit, a program that gives our juniors an accessible path to college," Galvan said.
MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz, Ed.D., noted that the program benefits students and strengthens the region’s workforce by providing clear paths to high-demand fields.
“Together with UWM and MPS, MATC is committed to expanding this opportunity, making sure that every eligible student knows they belong and has a path forward after high school,” Dr. Cruz said.
M³ has set a target to grow participation from 900 juniors for the Class of 2025 — about 20% of the class — to 1,500 or 35% of the class.
UWM Chancellor Dr. Mark Mone, a founding member of the M³ partnership, stressed the strength of scale in bringing the region’s three largest public educational institutions together. Together, UWM, MATC and MPS serve more than 100,000 students each year. And thanks to their size, one agreement across the three institutions immediately simplified the college application process for hundreds of students every year.
“Through M³, our collaborative efforts with Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Area Technical College continue to have a measurable impact on student access, especially for those who may not initially see college in their future,” Mone said.
Just this month, M³ was honored by the respected Wisconsin Policy Forum with its annual award for Intergovernmental Cooperation.
M³ is approaching its first decade of partnering to build bridges toward better lives across the region. Here are just a few highlights of its ongoing impact:
- 700 MPS seniors have earned 8,000 college credits at UWM and MATC through M³ College Connections.
- 900 MPS juniors streamlined their college admissions process in the first year of the new M³ Milwaukee Direct Admit program.
- 5,000 MPS students have explored careers at M³ Work-Based Learning job fairs.
- Nearly 1,000 MPS college-bound seniors have participated in the first two years of Smart Start to solidify transitions to MATC and UWM.
- 10,000 MPS freshmen and sophomores have toured UWM and MATC through M³ Academic and Career Planning efforts.
Read the 2024 M³ Impact Report
About M³ (M-cubed): Founded in the spring of 2015, M³ seeks to transform the future of Milwaukee through education. Through collaboration, coordination and partnership, MPS, MATC and UWM will increase the retention, graduation and career success of our students and provide a prepared workforce and citizenry for the Wisconsin economy. M³ will also provide the education and resources to help drive an entrepreneurial mindset for all students to increase choices and opportunities for growth.
About MATC: As 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. More than 30,000 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 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.