Volume 4, Issue 12--Published: Thursday, April 10th, 2025

MATC offers a wide-range of professional development courses in a variety of delivery modes and durations as part of our efforts to design meaningful professional development that provides just-in-time training opportunities for you to explore what you need when you need it. All of our offerings are free to MATC faculty and eligible for FQAS hours, so that you can plan and develop your own professional development goals and outcomes.  

Ally Workshop

Ally is a tool integrated with Blackboard Ultra that helps improve the accessibility of documents, images, text, and tables for students. In this session, you will learn how Ally benefits students, practice using Ally to address common file accessibility barriers, and explore Alternative File Download formats, such as speech-to-text MP3 audio, and text translation to over 71 languages. Register through the Zoom link provided. Use that same link to attend virtually, or you can attend in-person at the Milwaukee campus in M201 (CTE).

4/22/25, 12pm-1:30pm, Virtual or In-Person (M201, Downtown)

Mental Health First Aid Training

MATC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) invites you to register for Mental Health First Aid training, facilitated by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Federation for Suicide Prevention.

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

This will be a blended course. You will complete a 2-hour self-paced course prior to the instructor-led portion, scheduled for May 9 at the MATC Downtown Campus, room M616 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. You will receive an invitation to Mental Health First Aid Connect within 2 business days of registering for the course. This is the platform from where you will complete your 2-hour self-paced course and post course evaluation.

Faculty participation in this program will apply towards FQAS hours.

Online Instructional Quality

If you’ve completed Introduction to Blackboard Ultra (ZERD-190) or are currently enrolled in it, we welcome you to join us in Online Instructional Quality (ZERD-219) in Spring 2025.

In this research-based 1-credit course developed by Online Learning's faculty liaison team, you will learn the 'why' and 'how' of delivering high-quality online instruction to excel in demonstrating 21st Century Classroom Level 2. 

Key topics include: Learning theory and cultural relevance, online course design and alignment strategies, fostering regular and substantive interaction, and effective strategies to motivate and engage students.

 Prerequisite: Successful completion or current enrollment to Introduction to Blackboard Ultra (ZERD-190). Attendance: A minimum of 80% online synchronous session attendance is mandatory. Additional 2 hours weekly online outside of the live sessions will vary by skill level. Register through Self-Service and watch this video to ensure your registration is complete.

Summer and Fall Registration

Students can now register for Summer and Fall by Academic & Career Pathway. Students in a degree, diploma or certificate program and taking classes this semester had an opportunity to register by pathway this week. Next week, continuing students, new students and returning students can register on the following dates:

• New students, continuing students, or students returning to MATC:
  • Monday, April 14: Military veterans
  • Tuesday, April 15: Community Education; Healthcare pathway
  • Wednesday, April 16: Business & Management, STEM pathways
  • Thursday, April 17: Community & Human Services; General Education
  • Monday, April 21: Creative Arts, Design & Media; Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation pathways

• Students not enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program can register beginning Tuesday, April 22.
• New students who haven't yet met with an advisor — or just need more help with registering for classes — are invited to sign up for our new Express Enrollment events!

Join the Faculty Processional at Commencement!

This is a meaningful chance to stand with our graduates, showcasing the academic excellence that has contributed to their success. Please sign up by Friday, April 11. 

Processional Role Includes:

• Marching in with fellow faculty and staff
• Sitting on the arena floor with students
• Congratulating students after they cross the stage
• Representing your department and the college in a proud, visible way

Please note: A cap and gown are required to participate.If you do not already have one, you may request a rental through the sign-up form.

Our goal with Center Connections is to keep you informed, not only about Center’s work, but to help you navigate other college-wide initiatives that directly impact faculty.

Voice of the College Live: Closing Achievement Gaps

All employees are invited to attend MATC's next Voice of the College Live session Wednesday, April 23, 9:30-11 a.m., with a focus on how we can close achievement gaps for our students. Sessions will be held at the following locations:

• Downtown Milwaukee: M Building, Room M605
• Oak Creek: Room E114A
• Walker's Square: Cyber Cafe, Room 488
• West Allis: 117 Conference Room
• Mequon: A289 Lecture Hall

• The Current AI Landscape in Higher Education: Gain insights from leading experts on how institutions are responding to AI’s rapid evolution and what the future holds for teaching, learning, and academic integrity.
• How Colleges and Universities Are Responding to AI: Learn how other campuses are moving forward in the new era of human learning.
• Challenges and Opportunities of Writing and AI: Explore how AI is transforming writing instruction and assessment, and discover strategies to help students develop essential communication skills for academic, professional, and digital contexts.
• Leadership Perspectives on AI’s Future: Hear from higher education leaders on AI’s impact, the trends they’re observing, and the strategic decisions guiding their institutions in 2025 and beyond.

Traumatic experiences not only affect student well-being and achievement but also impact the broader school ecosystem including teacher well-being and overall school climate. Implementing trauma-responsive approaches is one promising strategy for mitigating the consequences of trauma.

Part of The Center’s mission is to keep you informed about current best practices and pedagogical approaches. Each issue of Center Connections includes links that are meant to be engaging, thought-provoking, and applicable to various classroom environments. For information on MATC's free access to Magna Commons publications, please see The Center's website.   Enjoy the rabbit hole!

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Milwaukee Area Technical College
The Center for Teaching Excellence

cte@matc.edu