Chancellor's Office
Chancellor's Communiqués
September 2007
Dear Colleagues,
Whether driving to work or looking outside, it is obvious that fall has arrived. Although the weather is still warm, we begin to look indoors to complete unfinished projects and begin new ones. For the UW Colleges and UW-Extension, the strategic planning process lies front and center, and has already begun in some Extension units.
In June and July, the Communiqué focused on our guiding principles and strategic priorities, and on matters relating to the state's proposed 2007-2009 biennial budget. In this Communiqué, I will recap some notable events that occurred during the summer and provide a current update.
Strategic Planning Process Update
Chaired by Marv Van Kekerix, the UWC/UWEX Strategic Planning Steering Committee will include:
- Lee Cunningham, Associate Professor, Dane Co. Coop. Extension
- Tonya Evans, Nutrition Coordinator, Racine/Kenosha UW-Ext.
- Renee Gralewicz, Associate Professor, UW-Barron County
- Margaret Hankenson, Associate Professor UW-Waukesha
- Marilyn Holt-Smith, UW-Extension Board of Visitors
- Christine Kniep, Professor, Winnebago County Cooperative Extension
- Greg Lampe, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor, UW Colleges
- Paula Langteau, Dean/CEO, UW-Marinette
- Patricia Malone, Associate Professor, Trempealeau Co. Coop. Ext.
- Dan McCollum, Asst. Campus Dean for Admin. Services, UW-MSF
- Shelley North, Director of Application Development, ITS, UWEX/UWC
- Paul Price, Associate Professor, UW-Washington County
- David Schejbal, Dean, CEOEL
- Keith Summers, UW Colleges Board of Visitors
- Student, UW Colleges, to be named
The major work on the strategic plan should take place between now and March 2008. A completed plan could be in place by summer 2008.
UW System Board of Regents Action
Regent Mark Bradley was unanimously elected as board president and Regent Charles Pruitt was elected vice president on Friday, June 8.
At their August meeting, the Board of Regents set fall 2007 tuition for all 26 campuses of the UW, raising it 5.5 percent for the 13 four-year campuses and freezing it at the 2006-07 level for the freshman-sophomore UW Colleges. We are excited about tuition being frozen at the Colleges, and hope it will be frozen or reduced next year as well. UW Colleges' tuition has been catching up to tuition at the comprehensives for years, but with the $250 million cut to the UW System four years ago, the gap closed further because tuition had to rise to cover expenses. The difference in last year's tuition was only $300 between a UW Colleges campus and a comprehensive campus.
The UW Colleges is the institution of premier maximum access for many students. Tuition must be affordable. In freezing the tuition at the UW Colleges and raising it at the comprehensives by 5.5 percent, the difference is now about $551. The difference in tuition between UW-Waukesha and UW-Milwaukee is $1,923; between the UW Colleges and UW-Madison it is $2,062.
Chancellor's Ongoing Visits
Since May 1, 2006, I have visited 48 county Extension offices -- the most recent included Iron, Barron, Polk, St. Croix, Taylor, Lincoln, Marinette, Brown, Pierce and Rusk counties. And, I continue to spend quality time on all of our campuses. In addition, I am a somewhat frequent visitor to UW-Extension's Divisions of Broadcasting & Media Innovation; Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning; and Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. During these visits I see numerous examples of the excellent work we are doing to carry out our missions.
Multicultural Awareness and Enrollment
On June 5, UW-Extension's first class of certified multicultural awareness trainers graduated from the program. Class members spent many hours becoming certified multicultural awareness trainers. They will help our institutions and our society become more inclusive and pluralistic. This is important on many levels. The 21st century will require us to make effective use of the talents and abilities of all our citizens in work settings that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Diversity fosters intellectual and social growth, and challenges stereotyped preconceptions; it encourages critical thinking; and it helps us learn to communicate effectively with people of various backgrounds.
Not surprisingly, those are exactly the fundamental goals of a liberal arts education: critical thinking, problem solving, exposure to a broad range of ideas and topics, communications skills - and all are meant to help negotiate in a diverse world. I send heartfelt congratulations to these trainers and, in another two years, I hope to congratulate another class of trainers who will represent both the UW Colleges and UW-Extension. Already I am seeing great returns on the investments we are making in multicultural training.
I am also pleased to report that our minority student enrollment is up 12 percent this year in the UW Colleges - a new high for us.
Annual 4-H Youth Leadership Conference
On June 19, I addressed the State 4-H Leader Council Executive Board in Madison. Board members were in town as part of the 87th Wisconsin 4-H and Youth Conference, June 18-21, which attracted approximately 700 young people who participated in indoor and outdoor educational activities, assemblies, and met people from across Wisconsin.
I have to say that our Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Program is one of the finest pre-college and youth leadership programs in the nation. It uses experiential, research-based educational opportunities that help youth become competent, caring, confident, connected and contributing citizens of character. I have a warm spot in my heart for 4-H, because I belonged to 4-H when I was a child, and it helped shape the person I am today.
The scope of 4-H in Wisconsin is impressive:
- 37,000 youth are enrolled in organized clubs
- 3,000 youth participate in after-school clubs
- 43,000 youth take part in other educational programs
Five UWC/UW-P Engineering Programs
We are expanding our great partnership with UW-Platteville to bring baccalaureate engineering degrees to five UW Colleges campuses: UW-Fox Valley, UW-Rock County, UW-Marathon County, UW-Marinette, and UW-Washington County. We will continue to pursue these types of partnerships not only with UW-Platteville, but with UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee as well.
Perhaps you read in last month's electronic clipsheets about the Gehl Corporation's decision to remain in Washington County, and retain 300 jobs there. At the heart of that decision was the role played by UW-Washington County and Dean David Nixon to bring a four-year engineering degree to the UW-Washington County campus.
As I travel around the state, I am also seeing tons of examples in UW-Extension where our work is returning huge economic dividends to our communities. We will be discussing more effective ways to communicate our economic value to this state. Should you have suggestions, please send them to me.
Senior Leadership Orientation
This year, several new senior administrators joined our ranks. In an effort to acquaint them, as well as our continuing leaders with the history, customs, practices, policies and cultures of our institutions, I held an institution-wide orientation on August 15-16 at the Pyle Center in Madison. Leaders indicated that they left with a greater understanding of each institution's organizational structure, our shared vision going forward, guiding principles and strategic priorities as we prepare for the strategic planning process.
Academic Year 07-08
On August 30, Convocation 2007 began the new academic year for the UW Colleges at UW-Fond du Lac with more than 525 attendees from all 13 UW Colleges campuses and UW-Extension. Regent President Mark Bradley keynoted this year's event, noting that Wisconsin will lose its competitive advantage in the knowledge economy if the state does not continue to invest in the UW System. He referred to a bipartisan report that concluded how the higher education system focuses primarily on traditional students, whereas only about 40 percent of students fit the traditional model. He explained how the proposed UW System Growth Agenda would address this issue and grow Wisconsin's economy. Last year, 31 percent of students at UW Colleges campuses were non-traditional, returning adult students.
Our enrollments in the UW Colleges are up in many categories (headcount, FTE, continuing students, online, transfer, etc). The following includes enrollments at the 13 campuses and UW Colleges Online.
| Total Enrollments | Fall 07 | Fall 06 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 13,113 | 12,678 | up 3% |
| Continuing Students (a subset of Headcount) |
6,319 | 6,052 | up 4% |
| New Freshmen (a subset of Headcount) |
3,951 | 3,938 | 0% |
| FTE | 8,841 | 8,579 | up 3% |
Institutional Fundraising Presentation/Discussion
On September 10, David Shufflebarger, a noted expert in the fundraising field, met with senior leadership from both institutions to discuss how a national institutional fundraising campaign might potentially advance some of the strategic priorities we have embraced through our shared vision. Shufflebarger is a managing partner at Alexander Martin & Haas, a philanthropic consulting firm. I have asked for participants' feedback to determine whether to proceed with a major comprehensive fundraising campaign and whether to recruit Shufflebarger's expertise to help in those efforts. Stay tuned.
Wisconsin Technology Days
On September 18, I welcomed attendees at the 2007 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days held this year outside Albany, Wisconsin, on 200 acres in beautiful Green County. This is an annual awe-inspiring, cutting-edge display of technology which pays tribute to Wisconsin's strong commitment to agriculture. Many UW-Extension faculty and staff are involved in making this event a great success. Seven 180-kilowatt generators used a renewable fuel from soybeans and powered more than 600 exhibitors. All tractors, choppers, and combines at the event used renewable fuel. Six hundred volunteers worked countless hours during the past three years to prepare for the three-day event. I was really tempted to take a ride on one of those "skid steers," if only I knew how to drive it. I must admit, it was a bit intimidating to see equipment priced at half a million dollars.
Awards Banquet
Congratulations to the recipients of this year's Chancellor's Awards for Excellence. I thought the first, annual Chancellor's Awards Banquet for both institutions went quite well on September 20, in Madison, at Lowell Hall. Fourteen awards were given in various categories that showcased the excellent work being done across the state by the UW Colleges, UW-Extension, partners and stakeholders to make Wisconsin a safer, healthier, greener, more beautiful, more productive, more economically vibrant, and more collaborative place for its people. You can see the award recipients at http://www.uwex.uwc.edu/chancellor/documents/recipients07.pdf. Thanks to all who made it a success: Co-Emcees Kathy Bissen and Patrick Schmitt, and:
- Chancellor's Joint Awards Committee
- Barb Sandridge
- David Prucha
- Mary MacKendrick
- Vicki Pierce
- Peg Davis (facilitator)
- Awards Selection Committee
- Barbara Dueholm
- JoAnn Hinz
- Brad Krause (co-facilitators)
- Mary Grant (co-faciliators)
- Diane Lund
- Barbara Stinson
- Andrea de Palma
- Deb Malewicki
- Barb Sandridge
- Extension Conference Centers staff
- Bill Mann
- Joe Way
- Agnes Maloney
- Annie Boak
- Eric Dubois
- Adam Whitlock
- Wisconsin Public Television
- Fred Wessel, producer/director/editor
- Frank Boll, videographer
- Kerman Eckes, audio recordist
- Tom Micksch, video editor
- Tom Naunas, audio editor
- Gary Mills, executive producer
- Seating committee
- Mary Grant
- Yvonne Horton
- Michael Bridgeman
- Mary MacKendrick
- Barb Sandridge
- The many others who helped with this event
- Chris Wachtendonk
- Kate Wodyn
- Jo McCormick
- Samantha George
Outreach Scholarship Conference 2007, October 7- 9, in Madison
This year's theme, "Access through Engagement," was chosen to show how institutions can increase access to university knowledge and resources through trust-based partnerships that foster dialogue and critical social issues. Through these partnerships, universities gain access to real-world environments and opportunities for research and the application of new knowledge. I hope you will join your colleagues in learning how they are increasing access through engagement to enhance our work and serve more diverse audiences. For more information on the program or to register, go to www.outreachscholarship.org
New UW Colleges Website
If you haven't visited the UW Colleges website, I would encourage you to do so. It was redesigned over the summer with a new look, new features, navigational tweaks, and updated information. I'd like to thank the UW Colleges marketing staff and Central IT staff for their work on the project. Joint staff are currently working on a new site that highlights integrations and collaborations.
Special thanks to: Dana Burmaster, Cory Chrisinger, Karen Cornelius, David Huntsman, Vicki Keegan, Bruce LaBuda, Micah Lanier, Kate Orenberg, and Paul Williams.
Personnel Changes
As of September 1, Gayle Kugler replaces Deb Malewicki as interim director of the Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (DEED) for the UW Colleges and UW-Extension and our Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network (WEN).
During the interim appointment, we will look at potentially expanding the division to provide a higher level of leadership to economic development efforts in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and the other UW System institutions. I expect to complete this assessment and launch a national search for a division leader within the next six to eight months.
Legislative and Budget Update
State budget negotiations are beginning to show signs of movement, and I will keep you posted. I met recently with Rep. Stephen Nass and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, as well as staff from Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson and Assembly Minority Leader James Kreuser's offices to talk about the UW System's operating budget. I also met with numerous editorial boards around the state this summer to talk about the budget and its impact on our institutions. Many editorials have been written in support of our mission, and numerous stakeholders have called legislators or written letters supporting UW-Extension and UW Colleges. Please convey my thanks and appreciation to all who are coming forward and advocating for a reinvestment in our institutions.
Finally, I hope all enjoyed a great summer and found time to spend with family and friends. As for me, I had the audacity to host our family reunion this year. More than 125 family members from all across the U.S. gathered here in Madison in late July for great fun. We enjoyed our impressive parks and wonderful lakes - a great, fun-filled time.
Thanks for all your good work. Your efforts make me proud to be a part of the UW Colleges and the UW-Extension where, in the words of one of the chancellor's award winners, "great work is seen as business as usual."
Kind regards,
David