Hello Freshmen!
You made a good decision to join the family of learners at UW-Whitewater because here you will get an educational experience unlike any other in the world. I told some of you when we met during PREVIEW this summer that I come to work everyday with a passion for the transforming power of a good education. I am living proof of it. I grew up in the poorest state in the country with the poorest public school system at the time. I was able to get a university education and that made all the difference. My education not only made me more employable, it made me more alive!
Now listen to me carefully: It doesn’t work unless you graduate. So join me in repeating the mantra of the freshmen class of 2006 and repeat it to yourself everyday: I will finish what I have started…I will finish what I have started…I will finish what I have started.
See you at commencement in about 4 years. All the best!
We all enjoyed Jeff Angileri’s remarkable commencement address in December and I will be showing some clips of it at tomorrow’s State of the University Address. Jeff left a strong legacy during his time at UW-Whitewater through his senior project, a video history of UW-Whitewater. I received a note from him a few days ago that will interest many of you:
Chancellor Saunders,
I hope this letter finds you well. Driving past the university last week, I was amazed to see the state of construction encompassing the James R. Connor University Center. The finished building and grounds should be absolutely spectacular.
I bring good news. After a long summer, I’ll be starting my first job this September. In fact, I’m in the process of moving to Rhinelander, WI, where I’ve been hired as anchor and producer of the morning news program at NBC 12. It should prove to be an exciting and wonderful challenge. We’re expanding to a two-hour news show, with local cut-ins during the Today Show. The Northwoods are breathtaking, even more so than the Kettle Moraine. There are lakes, rivers, and forests as far as the eye can see. And the people are so nice. If you happen to be in the area, please drop me a line so we can visit.
I’ve been thinking about the invaluable experience I gained at UW-Whitewater with UWW-TV News. I know it helped me land my first job. Also, I received copies of the finished graduation DVD, and the History DVD. I’m so glad to have two of my proudest accomplishments to remember forever. Unfortunately, my university e-mail expires soon, so I’ll send you my new e-mail address once I get one.
Best of luck in the new school year,
Jeff Angileri
Class of 2006
I really appreciate it when alumni take the time to give us feedback after they have gone out into the "big wide world." This note, from a College of Education graduate, really hit the spot. I believe it accurately reflects the kind of positive work we do here. His note was directed to Harriet Rogers, Richard James and Marcia James.
Hi Everyone-
>
> I hope this note reaches everyone in good spirits.
> I
> know email is quite informal, but it’s a great way
> to
> reach several people at once! I stopped by my
> classroom this morning to begin getting set up for
> the
> new year. While talking to another newer colleague,
> she spoke of her extreme displeasure with her
> college’s education program. Her comments weren’t
> the
> first less than positive comments I’ve heard about
> several teaching programs across the country. As I
> began putting up my bulletin board, I thought about
> why I always have great things to say about UW
> Whitewater.
>
> It’s been just over two years since I finished the
> Business and Marketing Ed. program at UW-Whitewater.
> Although there have been a few unexpected classroom
> moments that can’t be trained for, your program
> provided me with the tools and resources necessary
> to
> become a great teacher (Of course what I do with
> those
> tools and resources are up to me!) I just didn’t
> realize how special our program is until I heard
> about
> others.
>
> Looking back, I am extremely fortunate and proud to
> have my diploma and licensure from Whitewater. As a
> student, I was often frustrated by the rigor of the
> Business and Marketing Ed. Program. Although I
> privately sighed when told how detailed my
> accounting
> lesson plans needed to be, and bit my tongue when
> asked to be on campus at 7 a.m. on a Saturday for a
> high school competitive event, those high
> expectations
> have made me a better teacher. Gosh, I even had a
> leg
> up with curriculum writing, thanks to (dare I say
> it!)
> WIDS. The intensity of the program was an honest
> reflection of what I would experience in the
> classroom
> and I was prepared.
>
> The three of you need to know what phenomenal
> educators you are. Truthfully, I could go on with
> endless examples of your help, and know it’s greatly
> appreciated. Thank you for helping my first two
> years
> in education go as smoothly as they have.
>
> Take Care,
>
> Jeff Tiedke
> Class of ‘04
I just spent a fine Wisconsin summer afternoon picnicking at Lawcon Shelter with alumni of UW-Whitewater’s College High and hearing wonderful stories from times past. For those of you not familiar with our history, we used to sponsor a lab school for grades K – 12. College High was located in Roseman Hall and was part of the teacher training process for our education students. The last graduation was held in 1960.
I truly enjoyed talking with Illa Webb, a charming alumna of the class of 1927. She remembered the Dean and his wife as surrogate parents to all the students. “We could talk with them about anything…and we did.”
Setting has been a significant factor for universities for as long as universities have been around. Socrates didn’t like being indoors so he taught his students under a tree. Cardinal Newman, in his classic treatise, The Idea of a University, described a school of universal learning as an "assemblage of strangers from all parts in one spot." Certainly if you talk with very many of our alumni they will tell you their most vivid memories of their times at UW-Whitewater involved a physical place…a dorm room, an athletic field, or the library.
It goes without saying that our physical setting is intrinsic to the success of our university. The beauty of our campus and the effective functioning of our facilities is a credit to the hard work and dedication of the folks in FP&M. I enjoyed dining with them at yesterday’s picnics (at noon for the day shift and 8 for the night shift.) I told them how much we appreciate all they do for our campus. I will try to remember to tell them more often.
At yesterday’s BOR meeting, President Reilly offered an eloquent illustration of the sad reality of higher education for many of the young people in our state. He cited a recent survey that (conservatively) suggests that of every 100 8th graders in Wisconsin, only 30 will complete any post-secondary program. This figure includes technical school programs as well.
The important question posed to the group was this: “What’s going to happen to the other 70 kids?" In a knowledge economy, with the demand for baccalaureate degrees in the workplace increasing, what will they do? What kind of future can they hope to enjoy?
Let’s keep those “70 lost kids” in mind as we address the complex issues of cost, quality, outreach and growth for our campus.
In April, I will again honor a writer with the UW-Whitewater Chancellor’s Regional Literary Award. The first award was given to C.J. Hribal, the author of “The Company Car.’ We had a delightful evening with C.J. and I was so pleased to give him this honor.
The nomination committee has received a number of excellent suggestions for the 2007 honor. The committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, will be meeting soon to discuss those nominations and make a recommendation to me for the final selection. We hope to make an announcement by mid-September, at the latest. I hope that faculty will incorporate the selection into their courses and that people all over campus will join us in reading the selection. Then, in spring we will again hold an author reading on campus.
I am thrilled that this idea is taking hold. Stay tuned for the announcement
