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Convocation began with applause for Greg Lampe’s 30th year with UW Colleges, currently as provost and vice chancellor.
Chancellor Ray Cross then talked about “The University of Wisconsin Colleges in Transition,” elaborating on difficult financial and demographic trends that challenge higher education and our state. Still, he said, fall 2013 projected enrollment is close to that of fall 2012.
“Unlike many of our peers, we’re pretty close to flat, which is amazing,” he said, praising student services on the campuses, and other recruitment efforts and recognizing the work of Associate Vice Chancellor Rich Barnhouse and the implementation of the iPlan.
His update of progress on 2012-2013 institutional priorities included:
- Responses to the Bob Guell faculty salary compression study, including ongoing consideration of a market-based salary model; salary inequity recommendations implemented; ongoing discussions about gender equity; news about work groups to identify improvements, and efforts to secure increased funding via three sources — the state, enrollment and savings.
- Kudos for the Higher Learning Commission Associate of Arts and Science degree reaccreditation, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree completion program accreditation and approval of the related UW Colleges mission change – and kudos for the BAAS progress, including enrollment at all six participating campuses and development of 50 junior and senior level courses.
- The iPlan and Integrated Enrollment Management implementation and the pursuit of opportunities in high schools.
The 2013-2014 institutional priorities overview included:
- Resource development beginning with rebuilding credibility with the State Legislature and Gov. Walker’s office, working with UW System to address “base” revisions, working with local politicians and seeking outside funding.
- Stewardship including the work of a repositioning task force led by Senate Steering Committee Chair Mark Peterson to review a consultant’s recommendations and suggest base-funded activities to eliminate or delay (other than closing a campus, which Cross stressed is not an option).
- Responses to compression and compensation including the identification of methods and resources needed to achieve parity with peer institutions within six years, the creation of a compensation road map, a move to a market-based starting salary model and development of a strategy to comply with existing limitations for adjusting compensation.
- Implementation of recommendations by the retention and recruitment task forces, strategic recruitment in targeted parts of the state, pursuit of concurrent enrollment, continued development of foundational courses for the UW Flexible Option, consideration of accommodating technical college students through the BAAS, increasing diversity (student population, pedagogy, faculty, staff and curricula) and implementing the “There’s a U for You” campaign – for which Cross thanked Director of Marketing Vicki Keegan and her team.
The chancellor raised questions about how to improve morale, such as through increased professional development and other leadership opportunities, integrating University Staff into shared governance, taking pressure off to improve work-life balance and using technology to reduce travel. He also talked about UW Colleges as the third largest institution in the UW System, the need to be proud of our role and to recognize the increased visibility presented through speaking opportunities (many arranged for him by campus staff), his service on the UW System president’s cabinet and national press for the UW Flexible Option.
Exhorting faculty and staff to assume the offensive, Cross asked them to help recruit and retain students, remember what they do and why, and renew relationships with key stakeholders. “One of the fundamental things is to simply tell your story in a polite succinct way,” he said.
Cross concluded with his commitment to faculty and staff to streamline operations, improve relationships with stakeholders, explore new revenue sources and support opportunities to build morale, enhance professional development and grow UW Colleges’ future leaders – and his promise that “I have your back. I hope you have mine. We can only get through this transition together.”