Dear Faculty and Staff,
Last Tuesday we began open registration for spring semester and for the first time offered all students the ability to register and pay their tuition and fees online. More than 40% of the individuals who registered last week chose to do so online! Our technology worked smoothly, waiting lines on campus were nearly non-existent and many students told us how pleased they are with the service.
Here are sample comments from just two students:
“I didn’t think I did it right at first because it was so easy!”
“Takes three minutes to register now!”
I commend the entire collegewide team who advanced our web-based services through development, the online registration pilot for fall semester, the introduction of Inside MATC and full implementation for this spring. In particular, I’d like to recognize the hard work of Maureen Menendez and her team, as well as Lori Sebranek and the many vital contributors from Learner Success. Technical members of the team crossed many areas and include Kim Bethea, Steve Hineline, Peri Mills, Reggie Mosher, Jayme Kerr, Janet Granberg, Rod Byers, Mitch Millan, Jim Patton, Mike Gabriel and Annette Koenig. Thanks to those people and to all who helped revolutionize our registration.
As we make final preparations for our Fall Commencement being held this Thursday evening, planning is already going strong for our first event of next semester – Spring Convocation on January 9. Be sure to mark it on your calendars!
We will start with breakfast in the Truax Howling Wolf Café at 7:30 a.m. and then head to our collegewide assembly in the Mitby Theater to be held 8:30 – 10:15 a.m. Our keynote speaker, Andres Lara, “The Cuban Guy,” will help refresh us for the new year with tips on “How to Fall in Love with Your Job.” Breakout groups will follow the assembly. Center and department meetings are planned for the afternoon. Remember, all staff is invited to convocation even though at the beginning of each semester we target faculty needs and interests. Everyone who is available is invited to attend the morning plenary session.
You’ll also hear in our assembly about some of our latest college news, such as the terrific announcement received last week that MATC has been awarded a highly competitive grant for nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Community-based Job Training Grants. Along with partners such as the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, Covance, Promega, and the University of Wisconsin, we plan to develop a “career-ladder” strategy for laboratory technicians that will train 435 workers and expand our training capacity and programs.
Each week, I like to highlight some marvelous people I encounter or learn about here at the college. Here are this week's "favorite teachers,” as mentioned to me by students:
John “Luke” Matthews, anthropology
Ken Walz, chemistry
Ron Dunbar, economics
Joel Ryan, history
Joen Bilse, business tech
Matthew Renfro-Sargent, contemporary American society
Mary Haight, French
Jack Opel, English
Jack Hart, hospitality/tourism
Peter Wilmarth, travel/recreation
Special thanks to those who put on the holiday party. I heard a good time was had by all!
I try not to bother students during exams and the end of the semester so I won’t have any more names until January. However, I just want to say one more time how many unsolicited, positive comments I hear about our teaching staff. The comments are not based on ease of course work or just friendly personality; students seem to really appreciate the help that our faculty give them in learning.
The Portage Campus has received a $1,000 gift from the Thomas S. Kemp Foundation to start the very first Portage Student Scholarship Fund. A big thank you to Diane Jetzer for soliciting this donation.
The Fort Atkinson Campus also received an anonymous donation of $1,000 for its scholarship fund. Each of the four regional campuses will host their own scholarship celebration next semester.
A second round of scholarship essay reading was held December 7. Thank you to the following volunteers for completing the scoring for the spring semester applications: Linda Bahr, Tom Brice, Marilyn Carien, Lyn Hertel, Mike Irwin, Jim Johnston, Lisa Jones, Sherri Kliczak, Jerry Lehman, Cathy Marty, Diane Redsten, Mary Robbins and Tonya Vertein.
- Met with the President’s Advisory Team.
- Visited with the Middleton/Cross Plains School Board along with MATC District Board Trustee Jim Cavanaugh to talk about MATC and enhancing our services and partnerships with the district. We were pleased and very proud that our very own Ron Koci, MATC Business Technology instructor, serves on the Middleton/Cross Plains School Board.
- Attended TEMPO of Madison meeting.
- Interviewed by the Isthmus for an article on lifelong learning.
- Sang happy birthday with members of the Madison Downtown Rotary Club to Spike Ehlers, one of our major donors, for his 100th birthday.
- Attended the MATC District Board meeting.
- Presented at the Dane County Police Chief Association meeting held in Mazomanie.
- Attended the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee meeting.
- Videotaped an orientation piece for part-time faculty.
- Attended John and Georgia Wiley’s and Rotary holiday receptions.
As we complete the year and another successful semester, I hope you enjoy our break between semesters. My next message will be the week of January 8 but I will leave you with this quote to carry forward into the new year:
“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” ~Hal Borland
May your holiday be filled with love, laughter and renewed spirit.
— Bettsey
Bettsey L. Barhorst, President |
Bettsey L. Barhorst, President
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