Milwaukee Area Technical College

500 32nd St N, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) is a two-year community college that emphasizes technical training. MATC has four major campuses in the Milwaukee area. Each of the four campuses offers 200 programs that lead to an associate's degree, technical diploma or professional certificate. Some programs are offered in an accelerated format for students who have less time available to complete their programs.

Students can choose an occupational program with credits that count towards a future bachelor's degree, or complete the first half of a bachelor's degree via the Liberal Arts and Sciences program. Many students take classes for personal enrichment, to upgrade their job skills, gain new skills, or apprentice in a trade. Students may also attend MATC to earn a high school diploma, GED or HSED.

Classes are available during the day, in the evening, on weekends and online.

Students at MATC receive targeted, practical instruction and training for their career of choice. More than 80 percent of graduates find employment within six months of graduation or successfully continue on to four-year colleges and universities.

MATC faculty members have extensive professional experience in their occupational fields. Students at MATC benefit from hands-on teaching, smaller class sizes and individual attention.

History

Milwaukee Area Technical College was founded in 1912 as the Milwaukee Continuation School, located in the Manufacturers' Home Building in Milwaukee. Classrooms at this location became overcrowded, leading to the construction of a permanent school on State Street. Eight years later, construction of the school was completed and the school was renamed the Milwaukee Vocational School.

Evening classes have been offered from the beginning, and there has always been an emphasis on technical classes and "practical learning" taught by industry professionals.

The school has grown over the years to become one of the largest community-based technical colleges in the Midwest.

During World War II, the Milwaukee Vocational School was turned into a training center for defense workers. The Army Signal Corps set up a training unit on campus. The school ran day and night, seven days a week, facilitating the entry of large numbers of women and African Americans into the industrial workforce for the first time. When the war ended, returning servicemen flooded the traditional apprentice programs. The influx of adult learners led the college to change its name to Milwaukee Vocational and Adult School in 1948.

After WWII, Milwaukee Vocational School developed a series of technical programs that led to the school's transformation into the Milwaukee Institute of Technology in 1951.

Academics

The academic calendar for Milwaukee Area Technical College follows the semester format, with fall, spring and summer semesters.

Colleges and Schools

The academic units at Milwaukee Area Technical College are divided into six divisions:

• Business
• Media and Creative Arts
• Health Sciences
• Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Pre-College Education
• Technology and Applied Sciences

Student Life

There are more than 50 student clubs and organizations on the MATC campuses. There is a District Student Board (DSB) that provides support for district wide groups. The Office of Student Life can provide assistance with how to find or join a student organization.

Traditions

The school colors for Milwaukee Area Technical College are blue and white, with gold as an accent color. The athletic teams are nicknamed the MATC "Stormers."

Athletics

The MATC "Stormers" are part of the North Central Community College Conference. The "Stormers" athletic teams compete in several intercollegiate sports, including:

Men's Sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Golf
• Soccer 

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Volleyball 

Satellite Campuses

In addition to the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, MATC has the following satellite campuses:

• Mequon Campus
• Oak Creek Campus
• West Allis Campus

Community Life

MATC was created in response to community demand for technical training of workers in the region, and that commitment to the community continues. MATC provides training, skills advancement and enrichment courses for community members. Its offering of courses in the evenings, on weekends and at varied times is to provide community members greater access to learning.

In the past 20 years, the Hispanic community in the Milwaukee area has increased, leading to changes in teaching methods and curricula at MATC. Working with its Office of Bilingual Education, MATC launched an series of bilingual courses for Hispanic students, aimed at workforce development. Bilingual programs are available in several career choices, including Office Assistant, Nursing Assistant, and Phlebotomy. MATC also provides condensed Spanish language courses for service professionals needing bilingual skills.