From the Chancellor at UW-Whitewater

In the State of the University address on August 27^th, I spoke about opportunities that will be presented during 2007-2008.  Taking advantage of these opportunities will help us become the region’s leading, well-rounded, comprehensive institution of higher education.   As a reminder, I identified the following opportunities:

1.       To continue to move the university forward, using our Strategic Plan as a guide.  Departments, offices, and other units are asked to continue their efforts to implement the Strategic Plan on a local level.
2.       To serve additional students, provided there is appropriate funding.  We will have continued campus conversations about growth beyond the 100 FTE students identified in the Growth Agenda and the nature of the growth that we will seek.
3.       To become more entrepreneurial, making programs more responsive to prospective students and to the community. 
4.       To build on the sense of community found on this campus.  To help foster this sense of community, I will be conducting regular listening sessions, beginning with a session on September 19^th in the Atrium of the Greenhill Center of the Arts.
5.       To expand upon our commitment to diversity, not as a mandate but because it will bring a richer educational experience for us all.  I am asking departments, offices and other units to review the Equity Scorecard report and consider how it might guide our campus efforts. Also, a workshop for search committee chairs and members will be held on September 21^st.
6.       To be a model of sustainability.  As part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment we will be exploring measures to reduce global warming emissions and integrate sustainability into the curriculum. 
7.       To adjust to a physical environment that is changing.  As we do so, we will need to focus on using the enhanced facilities in ways that enhance our learning and teaching. 
8.       To meet and welcome new colleagues and new students.  Their enthusiasm and energy will help us be even more successful.

I am excited about the start of the new academic year.  As we continue our work and take advantage of our new opportunities, we can achieve our goal of being the region’s leading, well-rounded, comprehensive institution of higher education, providing regional leadership, a national presence, and global vision. 

Currently, there are 178 eligible UW-Whitewater students waiting to find out if they will receive financial aid for the coming school year through the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) program. WHEG is a state funded grant available to eligible undergraduate Wisconsin residents who have demonstrated financial need.  These students are having to wait for funding because of the delay in approving the state budget.  The Senate budget provides funding for these students, while the Assembly budget does not, reducing the funding for this program by more than 10%.

We need parents and students to contact their legislators and encourage the legislature to act quickly on the budget. Classes begin in less than three weeks. Our neediest students must know whether they will receive WHEG funding.  Without this funding, they will not be able to afford to continue.

We also need to provide state support for veteran’s tuition remissions. Currently, there is no state support; the tuition is covered by the individual campuses, in effect by all other students. While this is an excellent program, it needs to be supported by the state as a whole, not just by other students.

There is much to address in this budget. Wisconsin’s students need the legislature to act quickly and responsibly. The best way for that to happen is to approve the budget already backed by the Senate and the bipartisan Joint Finance Committee.