Here We Go!

Welcome back to the start of another year and congratulations to everyone who has assisted in the recruitment and enrollment of one of the largest fall classes in the college's history! 

The next challenge for all of us is to create an environment from day one that will retain students and assist them in accomplishing their goals whether it is to take one-class, completion of a program or transfer to a 4-year institution. With that in mind, the Student Life staff has been working throughout the summer on plans to focus on the transition issues that students experience especially in the first six weeks of school.

Studies have shown that the first six-weeks of a new student's college experience are the most critical as it relates to attrition of students. For the past several years, the Student Life team has worked collaboratively with staff and faculty on New Student Daze and Welcome Back events to provide a welcoming and friendly environment for the start of the semester.

Student Life is once again leading these initiatives with some new twists (WolfPack Welcome) and opportunities to meet the following objectives: 

--assist in transition to the size of MATC by helping them identify opportunities to feel personally significant and find personal meaning in their college experience
--create learning experiences that will actively engage the students
--provide opportunities for the students to become socially integrated with other members of the college community

One of the ways that Madison Area Technical College has done this in the past is by greeting students the first two days of classes and assisting them with finding their classrooms. Additionally, we are in need of resources and  volunteers to help us with additional activities that we have planned for the Truax and DTEC campuses.

Please let us know by Tuesday, August 18 if you would like to volunteer during  Welcome Week. If you have any questions, call Student Life Office at (608) 246-6224. 

Thank you!

Keith Cornille, Executive Dean Learner Development
Renee Alfano, Student Life