Company Profile
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Company Overview
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) is Wisconsin's largest and most diverse technical college, offering 170+ high-quality programs that connect students to a career in as little as one to two years. The college also offers a less expensive path to a four-year degree. MATC is transforming lives, industry and our community by preparing students today for the careers of tomorrow. MATC's diverse team members - 42% of whom are employees of color--work with a purpose to serve the students who make us one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest. Together, we are meeting the needs of the community we shared and committed to eliminating equity gaps in higher education for both students and employees. We are seeking passionate individuals to join our team who shares the same passion in serving this purpose. Learn more about MATC at www.matc.edu.
Company History
The MATC Story:
MATC is transforming lives, industry and our community by preparing students today for the careers of tomorrow. Along with our industry partners, we are redefining the future of higher education to create an affordable, accessible path to family-sustaining employment and career advancement. Instead of just talking about the skills gap, the college is leading the efforts to educate the students who will help close it.
MATC has a diverse student population with 55% of enrollees identifying as students of color. While our average student is 29 years old, the college also is experiencing growth in students entering MATC right after high school graduation.
MATC owes its beginnings largely to Wisconsin social reformer Charles McCarthy. Outraged by the child labor of his era, McCarthy in 1911 urged the State Legislature to pass a law creating a statewide network of continuation schools. Employers for the first time were required to release boys and girls from work to attend school or learn a vocation. The same right was accorded for the first time to trade apprentices. (Boys could be indentured with as little as a third-grade education.)
Led by founding director Robert L. Cooley, the Milwaukee Continuation School began classes in fall 1912 at the Manufacturers’ Home Building on Mason Street and at the Stroh Building south of the Post Office. These makeshift classrooms soon became overcrowded, and city leaders authorized construction of a permanent school at the corner of Sixth and State streets. The first section of the Main Building opened in 1920. Its completion and the consolidation of classes took eight more years. The new school was called Milwaukee Vocational School to reflect its training mission.
From its earliest days, Milwaukee Vocational School offered evening classes taught by industry professionals, using the same equipment students would encounter on the job. Cooley called this “practical learning,” a term that survives. It began with the need to serve a population of people from many different backgrounds, all of whom wanted learning that would directly advance their lives.
Then as now at MATC, working professionals dominated the ranks of evening faculty. In response to popular demand from various neighborhoods, a system of branch evening schools quickly emerged.
Benefits
Milwaukee Area Technical College’s overall benefit plan has long been recognized and valued because of its comprehensiveness and competitiveness in the market. We strive to provide high quality, affordable, family-friendly benefit offerings to meet the needs of our diverse workforce and encourage a healthy work/ life balance. We are also committed to providing excellent customer service and resources to help employees and their families best utilize these valuable benefit programs, which are a substantial component of your overall compensation package.