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(Photo courtesy of MATC)
Milwaukee Area Technical College today announced plans to seek a formal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) from the U.S. Department of Education. As part of this endeavor, MATC also announced a partnership between HPGM and the MATC Foundation to offer two-year scholarship opportunities. This is the first time HPGM has partnered with a two-year college to offer scholarships.
Earning the HSI designation brings financial Title V resources that help to improve student services; provide innovative instruction that helps retain students; support partnerships with four-year colleges; and provide education, counseling and financial information to help improve financial literacy. The designation requires enrolling at least 25 percent Hispanic undergraduate students. The college currently enrolls 16.4 percent Hispanic students in postsecondary courses.
MATC President Dr. Vicki J. Martin said that MATC wants to expand educational opportunities and to improve success for students of Hispanic heritage, while enhancing services provided to all students. “This is a case of more than ‘it takes a village,’” she said. “More than that, it will take a city, two counties and all of our key partners to make this happen. We’re all about offering opportunity to all our students.” (The MATC District includes all of Milwaukee County and most of Ozaukee County, and small portions of Waukesha and Washington counties.)
The college has set a goal to reach the 25 percent enrollment within five years, but hopes to reach that mark sooner. “We won’t rest until every student gets the opportunity they deserve,” Dr. Martin said.
Griselda Aldrete, president and CEO of HPGM, spoke at the event about the partnership with MATC. “The foundation of everything we do at HPGM is our commitment to attracting, retaining and recruiting Hispanic talent for the businesses and communities we serve,” she said. “MATC has a proven track record in supporting this mission. We are thrilled to begin our partnership with the college and be an even greater resource for Hispanic talent in our region.”
HPGM has pledged $10,000 toward the scholarship and the MATC Foundation will match it with another $10,000. Both full-time and part-time MATC students who meet eligibility requirements can earn the scholarship,with full-time students receiving up to $4,000 toward tuition over the course of a full academic year and part-time students receiving up to $2,000 per year. Tuition for a 12-credit semester at MATC costs between $1,800 and $2,400. Students can learn more about criteria and find application steps at: https://matc.academicworks.com/opportunities/6728
Aldrete and Dr. Martin were joined in making the announcement by Karina Belen Blas Rodriguez, deputy consul, Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee; Alfonso Morales, chief, Milwaukee Police Department; Tom Barrett, mayor, City of Milwaukee; Jose Perez, alderman, 12th District, City of Milwaukee; Dr. Wilma Bonaparte, vice president, MATC Mequon Campus, who will lead the initiative and who serves on the HPGM board; Bertha Gonzalez, MATC student; and Dr. Arturo Martinez, MATC associate dean and interim director of the MATC Education Center at Walker’s Square..
The announcement was made at MATC’s Education Center at Walker’s Square, in the heart of Milwaukee’s Hispanic community at 816 W. National Ave.
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