Our students are the undisputed backbone of our region’s workforce.
As an economic engine, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a well-oiled machine.
With some help, it can become turbocharged.
On Monday, March 2, about 100 regional employer partners, community leaders, elected officials and education administrators got a firsthand look at how the engine works and were encouraged to help boost its horsepower.
The guests gathered at the Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus to hear from the college’s administrators, business partners, and faculty, and tour campus labs and classrooms.
“At MATC, we serve more than 35,000 students each year across our 180 academic programs,” MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz told the audience. “Our students are the undisputed backbone of our region’s workforce.”
The Oak Creek Campus serves about 2,300 students each semester, said Dr. Patricia Nájera, the campus’s executive director. The Oak Creek Campus is home to the college’s Protective Services programs — police, fire and emergency medical services — and many of its manufacturing, construction and transportation programs.
“We’re training the future police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services professionals, along with workers in the automotive, aviation and truck driving industries,” Dr. Nájera said. “MATC is a vital part of the economic ecosystem of southeastern Wisconsin.”
Building the Future Workforce
At the event, Dr. Cruz highlighted the successes of MATC and urged guests to continue to support the college as it expands educational opportunities throughout the region.
MATC trains graduates for family-sustaining careers, helps employers fill critically needed positions and can quickly adapt its curriculum to meet business needs, Dr. Cruz said.
“After completing a one- or two-year program at MATC and entering the workforce, our average graduate earns about $50,000. That is real economic mobility for individuals and their families,” Dr. Cruz said.
Regional employers want graduates with adaptability, critical thinking and emotional intelligence, paired with hands-on, practical experience — graduates who can contribute on day one, Dr. Cruz said.
“MATC is uniquely positioned to respond quickly to this workforce demand,” he said. “We are constantly adapting our curriculum to build new opportunities in high-growth fields like biotechnology, artificial intelligence, STEM and advanced manufacturing.
“Through internships, apprenticeships and hands-on technical training, we are bridging the gap between ambition and employment,” Dr. Cruz added.
And MATC’s return on this investment is astounding, Dr. Cruz said:
- 96% of graduates stay and work in Wisconsin.
- The college and its graduates generate $1.4 billion in economic activity each year.
- For every taxpayer dollar invested in MATC, there is a 110% return over the course of students’ lives.
Dual Enrollment a Bridge to College Credit
Dr. Cruz also said MATC is connecting with students before college through dual enrollment programs. The college partners with 72 high schools to offer opportunities for students to earn college credit while completing their high school diplomas.
Last year, dual enrollment students earned more than 21,000 credits, saving families almost $4 million in college tuition.
“Our future nurses, welders, cybersecurity specialists and entrepreneurs are on our campuses every day,” he said. “By giving them earlier exposure to postsecondary education, we shorten their time to completion, lower their costs and create smoother transitions into the workforce.”
A great example is the partnership MATC has with Johnson Controls Inc., Dr. Cruz said. The international company helps introduce high school students to career opportunities in building automated systems (BAS) and heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC).
In 2021, Johnson Controls upgraded the HVAC lab at the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education. In this lab, students learn the technical aspects of HVAC work from an MATC faculty member and get hands-on experience working with HVAC equipment.
“We are eager to welcome the next generation of workers, and we believe in opening the door to high-paying careers in these fields,” said Edgar Mayorga, chief financial officer of global security products at Johnson Controls and a member of the MATC Foundation Board of Directors. “We value our partnerships with MATC and the MATC Foundation because they reliably help us reach more people who can deliver the skilled, talented workforce our region needs.”
MATC’s impact is possible thanks to partnerships with business and support from local, state and federal governments, Dr. Cruz said, and that support, especially financial assistance through federal grants and aid, must continue.
“When our students succeed, employers fill critical roles, families achieve upward mobility and our entire region prospers,” he said.
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 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 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 45 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.