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MADISON AREA
TECHNICAL COLLEGE STARTS 2004-05 ACADEMIC YEAR WITH UPWARD ENROLLMENT
TRENDS
AND NEW DEGREES, SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATES
Madison
Area Technical College (MATC) begins its new school year next Monday,
August 23, with upward enrollment trends and new offerings in information
technology (IT), business, applied engineering, science, health, hospitality
and travel. Preliminary data show enrollments are up from the same time
last year by more than 4% for students registering for degree credit classes.
In addition, more students also are registering for non-degree classes
than in the prior year. MATC typically serves about 50,000 students each
year.
New associate
degree programs this fall include IT network security specialist, paralegal
and plastics technology. In addition, new short-term certificates are
being offered in bioinformatics, biotechnology (post baccalaureate), information
security, systems administration, destination management, meeting and
event management, mammography and website development. Many of these certificates
have been developed to enhance the knowledge of professionals already
working in the field.
The college
is increasing classes and instructional support in health care, ESL (English
as a Second Language), and Spanish. It will expand its South Madison Community
Campus, located in the Villager Mall on South Park Street, to better accommodate
this outreach facility's growing enrollments. Almost all of the college's
health-related occupational programs have full enrollments or waiting
lists this semester.
In addition,
MATC is increasing the number of foundational math and English courses
for students underprepared to succeed in college programs. In a major
effort over the past several years to improve student success and retention,
MATC has been steadily increasing student participation in mandatory testing
and advising activities. This summer, faculty advisors held individual
sessions with 714 entering first-year students, up 43% from last fall,
to assess each student's math and English skills and ensure they are placed
in appropriate courses.
The college's Liberal Studies Program is accepting its second class of
dual enrollment students as part of University of Wisconsin-Madison Connections
program. This year, 30 students from across the state enrolled, up from
nine last year when enrollment was restricted to Dane County residents.
Under the dual enrollment program, a select number of UW-Madison applicants
are offered a guaranteed opportunity to finish their undergraduate degrees
at UW-Madison after successfully completing two years at MATC or a UW
College. While attending classes at MATC, students are granted many of
the privileges afforded new freshmen enrolled on the Madison campus, including
access to UW-Madison's libraries, recreational facilities and student
unions, and the opportunity to purchase tickets for athletic events at
student rates.
MATC
is one of the largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System's 16 colleges.
It provides a comprehensive curriculum of technical, liberal arts and
science, adult basic education and life enrichment studies and activities,
as well as customized employee training. MATC provides training in more
than 100 career programs. It awards associate degrees, vocational diplomas
and certificates, and offers non-degree courses. The college serves all
or parts of 12 counties located in south-central Wisconsin and offers
instruction through five campuses and various other locations throughout
the district.
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Last
Modified:
August 18, 2004
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