Experiencing record enrollment along with another budget crisis, MATC has decided to consolidate most of its programs for this year’s summer school to only the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. This decision was approved by the Provost, President’s Cabinet and Local 212 leaders. Dr. Vicki Martin, Executive Vice President and Provost, state that, “Consolidating summer school to one campus could save enough resources to ensure the Academic Support Center and Library hours would be preserved for next year. In the process, we (are) also ensuring more security coverage at regional campuses during the Fall and Spring semesters by consolidating summer school.”After speaking with Kathleen Hohl, Director of Communications and Events, she said: “MATC is facing a deficit of $23.4 million for the 2011-12 year so this is a way of closing the budget gap. MATC has been preparing for this even before the Budget Repair Bill for the State of Wisconsin.” Not all classes will be cancelled for the other campuses’. For example, the Fire Protection program that is offered at the Oak Creek campus will still continue.
It is anticipated that the Milwaukee campus will be able to support the amount of students expected to enroll in summer classes. Some staff will be moved down town during the summer to help ensure a sufficient amount of student support.
To offset the number of bodies in the building, there will be more online classes available as well. There is also a task force in place looking at challenges that may arise as far as parking, housing the faculty and other issues that may be involved. Al Pinckney, Interim Vice President, Student Services, is part of this task force and said this is a cost-saving measure projected to save roughly $90,000.
The other campuses will still have Student Services open, but Academic Support Services and the Library will only be available Downtown. Hohl added, “That site is the only location that will be open, but students should contact Student Accommodations staff at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus (414-297-6750) to arrange for services. Those services may be delivered at a regional campus.
Priority registration for returning students is April 11 and new students can begin to register April 25. If students have questions, they can seek potential answers from their counselors. Also, a link will be added: http://matc.edu/2011summer/index.thml, to help aid students who may have additional questions.
