(File photo by Andrea Waxman)
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With a focus on health and safety, Milwaukee Area Technical College has released “Stormer Safe + Ready: MATC’s Plan for Safety and Learning During COVID-19.” The college plans to offer online, in-person and a mixture of online/in-person courses this fall at all campuses.
Approximately 60% of courses will be offered entirely online. Another 10% will be offered with a mixture of online and in-person instruction (known as hybrid or blended courses). Twenty percent of courses that require hands-on training with specialized equipment will be offered in person. The remaining less than 10% of courses include clinicals and apprenticeships and will be held off campus, either in person or online.
Courses will be offered in the traditional semester-long format and in eight-week sessions. Based on changing health conditions and public health recommendations and requirements, course type, location, dates or times may need to be changed. Students enrolled in courses will be notified if changes are made.
The Milwaukee Health Department provided MATC with the necessary approval to offer limited in-person classes and student services at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, the Education Center at Walker’s Square and the Health Education Center on Friday, Aug. 14. Limited in-person classes and student services also will be held at the Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses.
In addition to assisting students remotely, MATC is offering in-person office hours for admissions, financial aid, advising and student employment/career/transfer. Services are available at the Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses. Visit matc.edu/fall for details and hours. (The services will not be available from Aug. 17-20 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus due to the Democratic National Committee convention which will be held near the campus.) Students can also access services including admissions, registration, financial aid and other areas virtually. See the fall plan for details.
“The health and safety of our students and staff is our greatest priority,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president. “MATC instructors and staff have worked tirelessly to find the safest way to offer high-quality instruction during the pandemic. We know that our community and students depend on MATC to train workers for essential jobs that require hands-on, in-person instruction in fields such as healthcare, police, fire, emergency services, manufacturing and truck driving. We are taking every precaution to safely offer in-person training for workers in those types of programs. We also have developed effective online instruction for other programs that do not demand in-person learning. We are committed to preparing our students for good jobs that offer family-sustaining wages in the safest way possible.”
In addition to implementing deep-cleaning protocols, the college has developed safety training for students and staff and worked to rearrange space to ensure social distancing. MATC is limiting entrances to allow for health and temperature checks upon entering. Face masks are to be worn at all times and face shields are made available as needed. Wipes and antibacterial stations are strategically placed throughout each building. In addition, protocols have been developed for reporting positive tests and for contact investigations.
All plans are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions warrant. For more information or to see the full “Stormer Safe + Ready: MATC’s Plan for Safety and Learning During COVID-19,” visit matc.edu/fall.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
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