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Fired MATC employees file discrimination complaints
A group of people fired from MATC's now-defunct DEI/Multicultural Services Department have filed state discrimination complaints.
MILWAUKEE - A group of people fired from Milwaukee Area Technical College's now-defunct DEI/Multicultural Services Department have filed state discrimination complaints.
What they're saying:
A civil rights attorney will represent the four fired employees. Community leaders gathered outside the downtown campus, near Lovell and State, to announce the filings on Wednesday.
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Those who spoke said MATC's lack of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion will leave students and staff without adequate services and support. Pam Fendt, president of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, said one of the fired employees had been highly praised for her job performance just months prior.
"MATC administration did not reach out to the union or inform the board ahead of time, and that indicates this was a unilateral decision," she said. "This undermines public trust."
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The other side:
MATC provided a written statement in response to Wednesday's announcement. It said all four terminated employees were offered support, and two of the four are currently working at the college in ongoing or new capacities.
Full statement:
"MATC works every day to ensure all students have access to high-quality, affordable degrees and high-paying jobs. As Wisconsin’s largest technical college – and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest – we are dedicated to supporting every student's success by providing necessary resources and fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment. It is no secret that Federal mandates have made operating within higher education more challenging, and we have acted thoughtfully, nimbly and creatively to ensure our students still receive the support needed to be successful at MATC and beyond.
"Our commitment and focus remain on supporting each and every one of our students, providing them with the resources they need to succeed. Through the Office of Community Impact and other departments, we are providing sustainable, long-term support to all students. They continue to receive uninterrupted, holistic services they need to pursue their educational and career goals, including academic support, one-on-one coaching, peer mentoring, student-parent resources, community partnerships, and access to programs like emergency funds and our food pantry to ensure student success and deliver a college experience.
"Our students demonstrate their ability to adapt to change every day. We know they will thrive despite this change in how they receive support. Perhaps the bigger question is not about our students’ ability to adapt and thrive amid changes, but about our community trusting us to make the changes necessary to allow MATC to adapt to current changes and propel us forward.
"Like other universities and colleges across the country, we continue to work to carefully balance and incorporate directives coming from the U.S. Department of Education, aligning federal guidance with local priorities. Our goal, which we believe we are achieving through the Office of Community Impact and other programs, is to avoid jeopardizing the critical funding needed to maintain operations and student aid at MATC, while still providing the necessary support to our students.
"Despite making difficult staffing decisions, we can proudly say that service to students has not been reduced and we remain committed to meeting students’ needs and making sure they have a positive experience at MATC.
"We work hard to ensure fairness and equity in the workplace, which was recently acknowledged as a Top Workplace by Forbes nationally, but we ask our community not to lose sight of our primary role as an education institution that must be focused on student success.
"We can confirm we have offered support to each of the four affected employees. In fact, two of the four are currently working at MATC in ongoing or new capacities."
Editor's note: This story was updated with the full statement from MATC.
The Source: FOX6 News went to Wednesday's news conference and received a written statement from MATC.