Madison College: Receives international award for interest-based problem solving

CONTACT:

Kathleen Paris, Interim Administrator

Office of Interest-Based Problem Solving

608.246.6498 (office) / kparis@madisoncollege.edu


Worldwide initiative acknowledges excellence in facilitation, collaboration

MADISON, Wis.—The International Association of Facilitators has given its Facilitation Impact

Award to Madison Area Technical College for its efforts to create a culture of interest-based problem

solving. The project, titled “Supporting Collaboration and Consensus-based Decision Making,” earned

an FIA Silver Award and is one of 20 facilitation projects worldwide to be honored.

Criteria against which projects were submitted for judging include organizational benefits; the impact

of the project in advancing the organization’s mission, vision and values; fostering an atmosphere of

collaborative decision making and working partnerships, and creating and sustaining a participatory

environment.

Kathleen Paris, interim administrator of Madison College’s office of Interest-Based Problem Solving

(IBPS), says IBPS seeks to ensure the voices of college employees at every level and students are

represented in crucial conversations that inform decision making.

“To ensure the best possible outcome of any discussion, it’s important that all interests are represented

up front,” Paris said. “Madison College has adopted the IBPS approach to issues management and

conflict resolution to ensure that key decisions are made collaboratively.” She credits Madison College

President Jack Daniels III for initiating the college’s movement toward a culture of IBPS.

Madison College facilitators recognized for their work in the FIA Silver Award-winning project include

Jeremy Kautza, part-time faculty coordinator in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning;

Michael Lussenden, performing arts instructor; Michael McDaniel, English instructor; Janice Mettauer,

associate dean of the School of Academic Advancement; Kathleen Paris, interim director of the Office

of Interest-Based Problem Solving; Jennifer Sauer, administrative assistant; and Kathryn Sorensen,

associate dean of the School of Business and Applied Arts.

Other FIA Silver Award winners are located in Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Netherlands and the U.K.


Madison College serves more than 40,000 students throughout a 12-county district in south-central

Wisconsin, offering 150 diverse career programs and certificates. Its mission is to provide open access to

quality higher education that fosters lifelong learning and success in the communities it serves. It is the

second-largest institution in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

The International Association of Facilitators (IAF) is a participatory organization that operates in

seven global regions and has members in more than 65 countries. As a professional association, IAF sets

internationally accepted industry standards, provides accreditation, supports a community of practice,

advocates and educates on the power of facilitation and embraces the diversity of facilitators to enable

powerful change. For more information, visit (IAF World | IAF World).