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Chancellor David Wilson

Chancellor's Office

Chancellor's Communiqués

May 15, 2006

To: All UW Colleges and UW-Extension Faculty, Academic Staff and Classified Staff
Fr: Chancellor David Wilson

In this message:

  1. Regents review status of diversity goals
  2. UW Budget Initiatives to Advance Growth Agenda
  3. Governor Discusses Wisconsin Covenant
  4. Cleek and Van Kekerix Honored for Work as Interim Chancellors
  5. President Reilly Shares "Good News" from Extension and Colleges
  6. Chancellor's Office and Provosts Located on Lake Street
  7. Larkin to Serve as Chancellor's Chief of Staff
  8. Malewicki Appointed Interim Director for Business and Manufacturing
  9. Briefly Noted

UW Colleges and UW-Extension Colleagues:

My first two weeks as your chancellor were a whirlwind of activity. I attended the UW System Board of Regents meeting in Madison on May 4-5, and I have had many fruitful discussions with faculty and staff from both institutions.

Last Tuesday, May 9, I was interviewed by Joy Cardin on Wisconsin Public Radio. Tomorrow, meet with local leaders and our staff in Waukesha County. Later this week, I will visit the UW-Marathon County campus, and deliver commencement addresses at both UW-Manitowoc and UW-Washington County. Later this month, I will attend a series of formal Cooperative Extension orientation sessions and participate in the 2006 UW Colleges Colloquium at UW-Baraboo.

The weeks and months ahead look equally exciting. Despite my busy schedule, I remain energized and eager to delve into this new role. As I do so, I will use this and other communications to keep you fully informed and engaged. Below are notes from the Board of Regents meeting, as well as several news items from our two institutions.

1. Regents review status of diversity goals

According to a report to the Board of Regents on May 4, the UW System has not yet achieved equity and excellence for students in all groups, as measured by progress against the goals in Plan 2008. UW System President Kevin P. Reilly noted that the diversity goals are an important part of the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin, which seeks to produce more residents with four-year degrees, attract college-educated workers to Wisconsin and grow the number of high-wage jobs in our state.

2. UW Budget Initiatives to Advance Growth Agenda

The Regents on May 4 considered a number of action plans from UW institutions that would contribute to the Growth Agenda. For example, UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells presented a plan to increase enrollment at that campus by the equivalent of 1,200 full-time students. The proposals, which would require new state funding, would allow the UW System to enroll a total of 2,800 new students in the next biennium, and 7,700 additional students in the long-term. The Regents did not act on these items, but discussed the potential for including them as part of the UW System's funding proposals for the 2007-09 state budget.

Among the plans considered was a proposal by UW Colleges and UW-Extension for $1.9 million in additional ongoing state tax funding to expand opportunities for adult students to earn associates and bachelor's degrees through improved student recruitment, advising, and support services.

3. Governor Discusses Wisconsin Covenant

On May 5, Gov. Jim Doyle met with the Regents to discuss the "Wisconsin Covenant," a new effort to provide financial aid and support for students from low-income backgrounds who wish to attend a UW System campus. Eighth-graders who finish high school with a "B" average, take college-preparatory classes and stay out of trouble would receive additional state assistance to attend college.

Gov. Doyle said the Wisconsin Covenant would require additional resources, but that the program is an important priority. He said he would work with the Board of Regents to direct more financial aid for this purpose in the next budget. The governor also expressed strong appreciation for the university's long-term plan to increase the number of Wisconsin citizens who have four-year college degrees.

4. Cleek and Van Kekerix Honored for Work as Interim Chancellors

The Regents took time on May 5 to honor Margaret Cleek and Marv Van Kekerix for their tenure as interim chancellors.
Regent Elizabeth Burmaster read the resolution honoring Marv as interim chancellor for UW Colleges and UW-Extension, noting his steady leadership, efforts to set a positive tone for collaboration between the institutions, and his support for economic development efforts. Student Regent Chris Semenas read the resolution honoring Margaret, who served as interim chancellor of UW Colleges, saying he admired her work to serve the colleges around the state. Regent Semenas commended Margaret for her "noble efforts in advancing the Wisconsin Idea."

I, too, extend my appreciation to Marv and Margaret for their leadership during the transition period.

5. President Reilly Shares "Good News" from Extension and Colleges

In his remarks to the Regents on May 5, President Reilly noted two recent accomplishments from our institutions:

  • UW-Extension earned the University Continuing Education Association 2006 Recognition of Excellence Award for Innovations in Outreach and Engagement in recognition of the Diversity Program Development Initiative
  • UW-Marathon County received a $3.2-million congressionally directed grant to support a planned expansion. The $6.8-million project would allow the campus to grow its services to the state through a 350-seat theatre, outreach offices connecting the campus to the wider community, Wisconsin Public Radio studios, Continuing Education, and a proposed Institute for Public Policy and Service

6. Chancellor's Office and Provosts Located on Lake Street

As I settle into my new surroundings, many other colleagues are also inhabiting new spaces – the result of several moves at our central administrative offices in Madison. With input from the Administrative Integration Steering Committee, we located my office on the 5th floor of the Lake Street Building in Madison. The UW Colleges and UW-Extension provosts, Margaret Cleek and Marv Van Kekerix, will be co-located on the 4th floor here, along with the vice chancellors for finance and administration, Steve Wildeck and Sue Schymanski.

To make room for these and other relocations, the Outreach and E-Learning Extension divisional offices moved to the UW Research Park, to be co-located with UW Learning Innovations. Also, the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program offices will move to The Lowell Center. Then-Interim Chancellor Marv Van Kekerix conducted a series of informational briefings last month with our Madison-based staff to explain these moves and address any related questions.

7. Larkin to Serve as Chancellor's Chief of Staff

I am pleased to announce that Willie D. Larkin will join UW Colleges and UW-Extension as the senior special assistant to the chancellor.

Willie will play an important role as we move forward with the administrative integration process. I am already working to fulfill my promise to visit all our county offices and campuses, and the Transition Team has recommended a process for conducting listening sessions around the state. As we carry out these ambitious plans, we must also attend to routine institutional business effectively and efficiently, with a goal of maintaining strong support for our educational programs. As we contend with multiple pending retirements and other changes, we must replenish our human capital.

Acting as my chief of staff, Willie will be a valuable addition to our team, representing the Office of the Chancellor, collaborating in policy development, overseeing special projects, managing our office budget and working with the senior staff on high-priority issues. His extensive academic and professional experiences prepare him well for this role.

Willie served as an assistant professor in the College of Education at Auburn University since 1984. In 1988, he received the prestigious Kellogg National Fellowship award, enabling him to travel throughout the United States, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Canada and Germany to study human resource management. Willie earned his undergraduate and Masters of Education degrees from Tuskegee University. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Education-Extension, with a specialization in 4-H and Youth Development, from The Ohio State University.

This is an exciting and challenging time for all of us. I know that Willie's abundant energy and great talent will be invaluable in the months and years to come.

8. Malewicki Appointed Interim Director for Business and Manufacturing

I am also pleased to announce that Debra Malewicki has agreed to serve as UW-Extension's interim director of Business and Manufacturing Extension http://www.wisconsinsbdc.net/uwex-busmfg/ . Her appointment will take effect on July 1, as Erica Kauten retires from that division's top post.

As director of the Center for Innovation and Business Development at UW-Whitewater, Deb oversees the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center and that campus' Small Business Development Center. She has a national reputation for developing innovative programs and attracting diverse funding sources. Deb earned her Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am confident that she will provide strong leadership for all 13 Small Business Development Centers, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network and other important programs.

You may recall from previous announcements that a search process had begun to identify Erica's permanent replacement. We have decided to suspend that search, so that we might use the coming months to gather additional information about UW-Extension's longstanding role in economic development. Within UW-Extension, we offer a rich array of programs and services that boost productivity and help to create new jobs. Still, opportunities in this area are large and growing.

To address this strategic need and enhance relationships with key state and federal partners, we need the benefit of some additional conversations. Through a series of formal listening sessions and meetings across the state, I will solicit ideas from faculty, staff, deans and external partners. We will identify the institution's current capacity to support economic development, assess our strengths and weaknesses and identify opportunities where the institution can deliver even greater value to the state.

I look forward to providing more information about this effort. In the meantime, Erica and Deb will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition. I know that Deb's capable leadership will preserve our critical work in serving Wisconsin's business communities.

9. Briefly Noted

  • We are working on a new Web site for the Office of the Chancellor, which will include links to both institutional Web sites. This "mini site" will include information about the Administrative Integration, news, speeches and other resources, including archives of these "FYI" e-mails. It will also include a full copy of the Transition Team's final report, which the group submitted to me on May 1.
  • Our two institutions enjoy a high level of public visibility, with news stories appearing on a daily basis about our important work statewide. I invite you to stay abreast of current events by subscribing to our daily UW Colleges/UW-Extension News Clips. Click here to subscribe to the News Clips e-mail list https://lists.uwex.edu/mailman/listinfo/newsclips and you'll receive both our institution-specific news and the daily UW System Clipsheet, with news about other UW institutions and state issues.
  • Look for your copy of "Extension News and Ideas" in the mail. In this issue of the employee newsletter http://www.uwex.edu/ni/documents/050106ni.pdf , which was distributed to all UW Colleges and UW-Extension colleagues statewide, you will read about some of my top-priority issues as your chancellor.

Thank you for your attention to these informational items. If you have comments or suggestions about this communication, I would love to hear from you.

Regards,

David Wilson
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension
432 North Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-3786 (O)
(608) 262-6572 (Fax)
david.wilson@uwex.uwc.edu

cc:
President Reilly
UW-Extension Board of Visitors
UW Colleges Board of Visitors

This message is being distributed to all UW-Extension faculty, academic staff and classified staff, as well as integrated and collaborative faculty and staff at UW campuses and other locations who do Extension-related work.

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