MATC Showcases Office of Community Impact to Strengthen Student Support and Success
The office offers increased access to holistic services to support student needs beyond academics.
On Tuesday, January 27, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) formally invited students into the Office of Community Impact (OCI), a campus resource established to further strengthen student success by connecting students to resources, relationships, and opportunities that foster belonging, persistence, and pathways to graduation. Although the Office of Community Impact officially began operations in August 2025, this occasion marks the official opening of the office space and the significant progress and expansion of services for students as they start the Spring semester.
Aligned with MATC’s mission of access and inclusion, the OCI works across campuses and collaborates with community partners to ensure that students feel supported, informed, and connected with the college from the moment they enroll until they graduate. The office serves all MATC students, with a particular focus on those who may benefit from additional academic, financial, or community-based support.
“Our students come to MATC with different experiences – working parents, first-generation college students, career changers, and veterans – with the shared drive and aspiration to build something better for themselves and their families,” said Dr. Anthony Cruz, president of MATC. “The Office of Community Impact supports their journey by recognizing these differences, removing barriers that may result from these differences and designing pathways to reach their education and career goals.”
OCI offers comprehensive support through peer mentoring and leadership development, intercultural and campus programming, and strategic community partnerships. OCI is launching a new tiered Mentoring Support Services model in partnership with MENTOR Greater Milwaukee. This initiative aims to cultivate a campus-wide mentoring culture, strengthen faculty and staff engagement, and improve retention outcomes. Through this and other partnerships with nonprofit, civic, and community organizations, OCI connects students to leadership pathways, service opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom.
“Mentoring plays a critical role in helping students overcome challenges, stay engaged, and see what’s possible for themselves,” said LaNelle Ramey, executive director of MENTOR Greater Milwaukee. “Through this partnership, we’re helping build a mentoring culture that supports students not just academically, but as whole people, connecting them with relationships that encourage confidence, growth, and long-term success.”
“Partnerships with organizations like MENTOR Greater Milwaukee are opening new doors for our students,” said Michael Rogers, MATC’s vice president of Student Engagement and Community Impact. “These connections empower students to discover their strengths and set ambitious goals. This is exactly the kind of student-centered experience OCI was created to provide, bringing together mentoring, leadership, and community partnerships to support student success in every part of campus life.”
In addition, MATC is establishing partnerships with United Community Center (UCC), African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee (AALAM), Chabad on Campus of Milwaukee and the Ho-Chunk Nation Milwaukee Branch Office.. These partnerships aim to foster greater awareness and understanding of other cultures, while also providing specific support for students within those cultural groups.
For more information about the Office of Community Impact or to connect with services, visit MATC’s Student Engagement and Community Impact Division.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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