Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) has announced that its Adult High School has earned accreditation by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts and education service providers. 

MATC is the only one of the 16 Wisconsin Technical College System colleges that operates an adult high school.

Founded in 1931, MATC’s Adult High School has a diverse faculty and staff serving students 16 and older who want to earn a high school diploma. It offers a full range of academic and student support services and many courses incorporate hands-on learning. The low-cost courses are offered in online, in-person or blended formats. In-person classes are held on the Downtown Milwaukee Campus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with an additional four hours to be completed outside of class. Students who have earned credits at other schools earn advanced standing and complete the remaining credits needed for graduation.

"MATC’s Adult High School fills a number of needs in the community," said Kevin Mulvenna, instructional chair and faculty member. 

In addition to allowing students to earn prerequisites for college courses and programs without having to utilize financial aid or pay college tuition, it also offers a way to earn a high school diploma for programs or institutions that will not accept a GED or HSED.

“Most importantly, many of our students want to prove they can complete a traditional high school program,” Mulvenna said. “For some, having not done so has left a haunting, emotional scar.”

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, recognizes organizations nationwide that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited, and that MATC’s Adult High School is recognized across the U.S. as a school that meets Cognia Standards of Quality and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

“School accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Adult High School a nationally recognized mark of quality,” said, Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”

To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a five-year term.

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the institution and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Adult High School is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.” 

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org.