President's Message: February 8, 2010

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I want to let you know about some exciting changes at our Downtown Campus. Dr. Sido will be relocated to the downtown campus in order to provide administrative oversight. He will be joined by Laurie Beardsley who will be the administrative coordinator. The two will begin their new duties as soon as logistically possible. Please join me in wishing them congratulations!

Win a Career Contest
Thursday night's "Win a Career" contest was one of the best events I have experienced in my five years at Madison College. I want to congratulate Vicki Saffran, Teresa Werhane and the entire Marketing Team, as well as Corey Helser and his Event Services Team for all their hard work in making this a big success. Special thanks to emcee Bill Bessette, our very own “Oprah.”

This event really showcased our prospective students. We had more than 130 applicants for this year's Win a Career contest. Students submitted an essay describing their career goals. From that group we picked 46 semi-finalists who put together a short video describing how winning a career at Madison College would change their lives. All our semi-finalists and their families (more than 300 people) were at the Mitby Theater when we learned who would be our five finalists and our eventual grand prize winner.   

The students displayed a lot of enthusiasm, creativity and passion for the college. We can't wait for them to enroll next year! I also want to thank the Madison College Jazz Band for revving everyone up during the reception, and Karen Paschke and Jeanne Pluemer for dressing up in their vintage outfits to interview our winners. If you're looking for an uplifting, morale boosting and hilarious evening…then make sure you stop by next year's Win a Career contest!

President’s Listening Sessions
As mentioned at Convocation, I will be visiting your campus this spring to talk about the Facilities Master Plan. Please think about what part of the plan your community would support, and also how the college can get support from your community.

Here’s the schedule for this spring’s listening sessions. I look forward to talking with you.

Wednesday, February 17
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Room 116
West Campus

10:30-11:30 a.m.
D240
Downtown Campus

Thursday, February 18
10-11 a.m.
Cafeteria (lower)
Truax Campus

Monday, March 15
10-11 a.m.
Room 157
Fort Atkinson Campus

4:30-5:30 p.m.
Room 142AB
Truax Campus

Wednesday, March 17
10-11 a.m.
Reedsburg Campus

12:30-1:30 p.m.
Room 102
Portage Campus

3-4 p.m.
Room 142
Watertown Campus

Carroll Street Cafe
We are pleased to announce that Brad Kahn has been assigned to manage the Carroll Street Café at the Downtown Campus as he continues to assist with catering activities. Brad brings a host of skills and expertise to the operation as we enhance menus and expand service hours. The Carroll Street Café is now open until 7:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Please help us in welcoming Brad to the Downtown Campus!

College Marvels
Here are the names of faculty mentioned to me recently by students as their favorites.
Carl Stewart, English
Kenneth Walz, chemistry
Laura Osinski, philosophy
Gaila Olsen, mathematics
Al Lehnen, mathematics

More Marvels
Thomas Tubon, Jr., genetics instructor, was recently awarded a regional teaching fellowship from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, DNA Learning Center, to organize and present a workshop for educators interested in learning about the latest in Cancer Research and how to maximize related web-based resources in the classroom.

Chemistry instructor Holly Kerby has just received word that she has been approved for a $75,000 grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences. Holly's proposal was entitled: Science Investigation Plays: Engaging Children in Chemistry and Undergraduates in Chemical Education. Special thanks to Ed Clarke and Dana Maya for their work in preparing this grant.

Highlights of My Past Week:
• met with College Council,
• gave an update on our biotechnology program at the Biopharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (BTCI) board meeting,
• attended the downtown Rotary Club of Madison with district board chair Jon Bales, co-chair Frances Huntley-Cooper, and board trustee Vera Riley, where we heard about the Overture Center Community and Economic Impact Study,
• met with PSRP President Mick Conners,
• met with Edgewood High School’s president, principal and the chairman of the board of trustees, along with Frances Huntley-Cooper and Keith Cornille, to talk about enhancing our services and partnership with the high school,
• participated in the WTCS Presidents Advocacy Committee telephone conference,
• met with full-time faculty president Joe Lowndes, and
• stopped in at the Opening exhibition for one of Greg Schulte’s art students, at Michelangelo’s Coffeehouse.

In closing, here’s a quote by our Assistant women’s basketball coach Mike Mayfield:

“If you’ve got good people around you, you will be good, because they won’t let you fail.”

We must have good people around our women’s basketball team because they keep winning!

Bettsey