MADISON, Wis. -- Madison Area Technical College said its summer enrollment is up 20 percent from last year.

MATC said more of its summer students are unemployed workers who haven't been in the classroom for awhile, and the school said these students are taking advantage of every opportunity.

As MATC is bracing for an uptick in student traffic, counselors said these new students might need a refresher course on scholastic life.

"Remember when you were 18 and you went away to school and you just didn't know what to do?" asked Al Studesvile, a MATC counselor who works closely with students who might have recently lost their jobs. "You know, they have put off following their dreams for so long. To come back to school now, they're able, through unfortunate circumstances of being dislocated, they're turning lemons into lemonade."

Since January, MATC's degree credit enrollment is up 7 percent, and more than 20 percent for the summer session.

"We know that this is our time. We know that people are coming to us for help," said Terrance Webb, MATC vice president of learner success. "We know that people need to learn new skills, find new jobs, and they need to do that as quickly and efficiently as possible."

And while some haven't seen a classroom in decades, the college said dislocated workers have become some of the most dedicated in the classroom.

"They know that this is important," said Studeville. "And they end up being Dean's List students. That's good stuff."

MATC is urging any dislocated workers to attend a free summer workshop to map out a plan. The workshop is held every Monday this summer, at 11 a.m., on the Truax Campus. For more information, people can call MATC at 608-246-6076.