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Currently Viewing: Winter 2008
News
Building on our access mission:
The role of UW Colleges and UW-Extension
UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson listens to UW-Sheboygan students Rob Keller and Lybra Olbrantz as they ask questions about tuition and guaranteed-credit transfers. The chancellor is currently studying recommendations by several task forces that have the potential to further increase Wisconsin residents' access to a University of Wisconsin degree.
Photo by Joelle Steffen
UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson provided this update on the work of a number of active institutional task forces.
As many of you know, shortly after I became chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension I named a Commission on Enhancing the Mission of UW Colleges. The goal of this commission was to help us figure out how to enhance, strengthen and build on the mission of access that has been the mainstay of UW Colleges for more than 40 years. The commission also looked at the mission of access for UW-Extension.
After reviewing this report I appointed a number of task forces to examine how we could further extend our reach beyond current locales and catchment areas to respond to more state needs. As of mid-January, four task forces had given me their reports, and I am currently studying their recommendations with members of our senior leadership team.
Task Force on Degree Enhancements
In a nutshell, the two major recommendations of the Task Force on Degree Enhancement are that:
1) UW Colleges be given authority to offer a baccalaureate degree in applied arts and science, and
2) UW Colleges place more emphasis on offering associate degrees with an area of emphasis. For example, UW Colleges might offer an associate of arts degree in business administration.
Madison Exploration Task Force
The Madison Exploration Task Force has recommended several options for UW Colleges to explore in order to make available more opportunities for individuals not being served in Madison and Dane County to pursue a University of Wisconsin education.
Northern Wisconsin Initiative Task Force
The Northern Wisconsin Initiative Task Force has recommended a number of ways in which UW Colleges and UW-Extension can provide greater opportunity for place-bound individuals to pursue their associate degree and ultimately their baccalaureate degree.
Next steps
I will discuss the recommendations of the task forces with the governance groups, the faculty senate, the faculty, deans, UW System Administration, external partners and others to determine which we should pursue.
It is my hope that we will commence these discussions in mid-February, and will be prepared in the spring or early summer to bring to UW System Administration and, hopefully, the UW Board of Regents, a slate of proposals that will move UW Colleges and UW-Extension closer to being the premier access institutions within UW System.
Milwaukee Exploration Task Force
The task force looking at how to better serve the needs of the Milwaukee area is still at work and, hopefully, will present its recommendations soon. As soon as I receive the task force's recommendations, I will follow the procedure I previously outlined, that is, hold a number of conversations with various colleagues and partners in order to appropriately vet these proposals.
Building on a foundation of excellence
The bottom line is that I have read the work of the task forces, and I am truly excited about the ideas and initiatives that have been put forward. I have said repeatedly that UW Colleges and UW-Extension are the best in the United States at what we do. We will go forward and continue to build on this foundation of excellence to bring the education, information, research and expertise of the University of Wisconsin to advantage the people of the state of Wisconsin.
For more information:
David Wilson
Chancellor
UW Colleges and UW-Extension
(608) 262-3786
david.wilson@uwex.uwc.edu