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Welcome to the

Learning College Project

Welcome to the home page for Vanguard Learning College Project. 

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About Madison Area Technical College

Introduction

 Madison Area Technical College began a journey in the early nineties that is moving us toward becoming a learning centered college. At that time the document Building Communities: A Vision for a New Century was examined thoroughly as the concept of participatory decision-making was introduced.  This set the expectation for all staff to be students of Community College trends and issues. An early outcome of shared planning was the formation of a seminar for faculty, facilitated by faculty, focused on the `topic of fostering critical literacy in our learners. This semester long seminar and a modification of it afforded nearly three hundred instructors from all disciplines a full semester to experience studying this topic with colleagues.  The model of teachers and staff teaching one another has become part of the daily college culture.

 Nationally known speakers on topics including environmental scanning, technology, diversity, at risk students, etc. became part of semi-annual colloquia for all staff.  All were invited to share in the identification of institutional values, identification of practices that were no longer relevant, application of institutional planning to departmental planning, and to share an array of best practices with one another.

 In 1995 a team from throughout the college began the work of identifying the core abilities that are to be integrated throughout the curriculum and mastered by all students.  This systemic approach to curricula design was new to the college.

 In 1996 the College Board held a three-day Future Search Conference attended by 170 stakeholders of MATC.  This conference provided the necessary data for the board to revise both the vision and mission statements for the college, as well as identify five strategic initiatives.  One of these initiatives is "student success."

 In May of 1998 approximately 100 leaders from throughout the college studied the monograph Creating More Learning-Centered Colleges. Terry O'Banion facilitated a workshop at which participants applied the six principles of a learning college to various departments and initiatives at MATC.

 In January of 1999 Dr. O'Banion returned for a college colloquium and introduced the Learning College concepts to all staff.  That fall, Staff Development began a three-year commitment to use of an educational philosophy and techniques providing a framework for application of the learning principles. A new contract was ratified for full time faculty revising the workload formula to reflect a commitment to service to the college and professional development, thus acknowledging the resource of time needed for transformation to a Learning College.

 The MATC Strategic Plan provided the template that was consistent with the Learning College principles. Application for the Vanguard project was motivated by MATC' s desire to refine systems, policies and practices to foster progress on movement toward becoming a Learning College.

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Last updated: June 03, 2003.