New Nickname Reflects Big Change
Wed, 12/23/2009 - 11:23 — wbessette
New nickname reflects big change
Wisconsin State Journal Opinion Page
December 23, 2009
While the change in emphasis on the name at Madison College (aka, Madison Area Technical College) has received a lot of attention, it's really the sea change at the school that should be noted.
Last Thursday, the school awarded various degrees to about 1,200 students at its mid-year graduation ceremony. And many of those graduates - more than ever before - will be using their Madison College experience as a first step toward earning a four-year degree.
The school is still officially Madison Area Technical College. But the institution wants Madison College to be its short-hand version, instead of the more familiar MATC designation.
The MATC reference has caused confusion with another school using the same letters: Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Beyond differentiating itself, the Madison school wants the community to better understand its mission and evolution. In short, the Madison College presence here is growing - and changing. The school serves more than 40,000 students at 11 locations.
Technical colleges often boom during recessions, when displaced workers look for retraining and new careers. That is certainly the case here. School leaders are dealing with enrollment jumps of more than 10 percent.
That growth alone prompts changes, as does the school's desire to fully embrace its liberal arts role along a student's path to a four-year degree.
Paired with its traditional offerings on the technical front - associate programs galore with many apprenticeships in skilled trades - Madison College touts its transfer program, especially to UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater.
With all that in mind, the new nickname makes sense and is more reflective of the institution's direction.
At the same time, Madison College needs to manage its growth spurt carefully. An ambitious building campaign or staff surge could become a problem in a few years when the enrollment boom subsides.
Madison College needs to be flexible on future needs and respectful of taxpayers. If it does that, further success on its vital mission should follow.