President's Message: November 30, 2009

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving holiday! I hope you had time to spend with your family and friends. 

We are now in the full swing of the holiday season! To thank everyone and celebrate our accomplishments, please join me and your colleagues at the following celebrations:

Annual Holiday Celebration
Friday, December 11
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Door Creek Golf Course, 4321 Vilas Rd., Cottage Grove 

President’s Holiday Celebrations:
Monday, December 14
10:30 a.m. to noon
Fort Atkinson Campus (Room 157)

12:30 to 2 p.m.
Watertown Campus (Room 121) 

Tuesday, December 15
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
West Campus (Room 113) 

Wednesday, December 16
10:30 a.m. to noon
Portage (Room 102) 

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Reedsburg (Room 113) 

Thursday, December 17
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Downtown Campus (D240) 

Tuesday, December 22
8 a.m. to  9:30 a.m.
Truax Marketplace

New Human Resources Director
Chuck McDowell has been hired as Madison Area Technical College's new Director of Human Resources. He will begin his new role on December 14, succeeding Gwen Torkelson who is retiring January 4. Chuck previously worked as the HR Director for Milwaukee County and in related roles at the state departments of Revenue and Administration. He has considerable experience working with employee relations and labor relations. We are grateful to Gwen for supporting a smooth transition. Welcome Chuck! 

Wisconsin Partnership for a Stronger Economy
Madison Area Technical College has been selected to serve on the Wisconsin Partnership for a Stronger Economy. The partnership is designed to be a fresh approach to spur economic development and get Wisconsin residents back to work. State Representative Peter Barca (Kenosha) was appointed by Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan to chair this committee. 

College Marvels
Here are the names of instructors and staff mentioned to me most recently by students:

Sandy Fuller, marketing and enrollment
John “Luke” Matthews, anthropology
Sarah Bannen, elementary algebra
Kristin Uttech, marketing
Amanda Schumacher, massage
Patricia Marco, marketing 

More Marvels
Congratulations to Jim Wildeman and his students for the beautiful photographs they took for Monona Terrace’s 2010 Calendar.  

The Continuing Registration event held earlier this month was successful! Registrations were up over the previous year. Additionally, 98 students (most likely continuing students who were not in a program) were admitted into open programs during this event. The Enrollment Center, Academic Advising and Student Life staffs are to be congratulated on a job well done. 

Highlights of My Week:
-met with Mick Conners, PSRP President;
-toured the Waisman Center along with Sandy Hall, disability resource services administrator;
-attended a joint meeting of the PSRP Union Management and Executive Teams;
-interviewed and shadowed by a Leadership as an Art student;
-met with the three final candidates for the position of Urban League of Greater Madison President and CEO; and
-attended the City of Madison’s Autumn Gathering. 

In closing, here is a quote from Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: 

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
‘I don’t much care where’- - said Alice.
‘Then it doesn’t’ matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
‘- -so long as I get somewhere,’ Alice added as an explanation.” 

Thank you for all the guidance you give to our students! 

Bettsey