Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Case Study
Market Strategy
Experience Design
Engagement Consulting
How we made NEW possible
In partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), NEWaukee partnered to create an innovative new program to accelerate career exploration.
How it connected
Since its inception, Gap Year has seen four cohorts (and counting) with nearly 100 student participants.
Investing in a pipeline of the region’s future talent
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. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities.
“Our partnership with NEWaukee has allowed us to truly differentiate our institution in the region.”
“I want to go into IT which I’m 100% sure I wouldn’t have realized without the help of this program.”
Key Insights
The NEWaukee team did extensive research on demographic and behavioral shifts that are exacerbating the skills and equity gaps affecting the region:
In 2019 at MATC, of the just over 3,000 applicants in the direct-from-high-school age range who applied to MATC, nearly 60% of them did not enroll at any post-secondary institution the fall immediately following graduation.
Only 37% of Milwaukee county residents hold an associate’s degree or higher, but 62% of all jobs in Wisconsin require education beyond high school. Milwaukee’s college-age population is decreasing in part because of demographic realities, but also because many are opting out of college immediately following graduation.
Since 2010, there has been a 294% increase in gap years taken. Gap year situations occur because a person needs income, is not ready or unsure of their career path, and/or may calculate that college is too expensive.
Any response to these trends must be a multi-pronged approach to advance equity and build a talent pipeline while engaging disconnected and underemployed college-aged adults.
Engagement Challenge
Skills and opportunity gaps are persistent within the Milwaukee region. These gaps threaten the region’s economic health and upward mobility for many who have lived in generations of poverty.
MATC partnered with NEWaukee to create an innovative new program that would accelerate career exploration for students that might be at risk of becoming underemployed.
Engagement Solution
Led by MATC in partnership with NEWaukee, the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Gap Year program is an immersive program for high school graduates seeking a transformative experience before they go to college or pursue a future career path.
During the MATC Gap Year program, high school graduates who are not currently planning to pursue higher education explore jobs with high starting salaries, connect with local employers, build their network with civic and business leaders, and form connections with peers – all while having a flexible schedule to work during the experience. Participants receive a $1,200 stipend upon completion of the program.
The MATC Gap Year is a 10-week intensive program running in spring and fall, followed by alumni experiences that allow for continued mentorship, job opportunities, and networking resources.
