Diversity Programs Soar: UW-Whitewater offers a wide
range of programs serving Wisconsin’s diversity, first-generation
college and underserved communities. Federal programs include
Upward Bound, Academic Talent Search and McNair Scholars.
Wheels to Whitewater is a program designed to bring inner-city
students to campus to help them visualize the college experience. In
2003-04, more than 1,000 students were served in these programs.

To Russia, With Interest: A summer research trip for 13
faculty members across several disciplines culminated in some
inspired ideas for the curriculum. In the business college, for
example, faculty will be working with the University School of
Management in St. Petersburg on a joint project exploring the tax
systems of Russia and the United States. The letters and sciences
college also launched its first-ever beginning Russian language
program in 2003-04. The post-Cold War interest in Russia is very
strong among faculty and students alike.

The Wisconsin-China Connection: In spring 2004, a
delegation of 32 Chinese agribusiness leaders spent a week in
Wisconsin, with UW-Whitewater as its home base. Its mission: pick
up some pointers from America’s Dairyland on how to improve
China’s growing dairy industry. The project, led by Carla Lenk, has
generated millions in exports from Wisconsin to China.

The Wisconsin-India Connection: Picking up where the
China project left off, the Emerging Markets program launched a new
effort this year to explore trade agreements with the world’s second
most populated country. With a $220,000 grant from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the campus will spur multiple exchanges
with agribusiness leaders in India, culminating in a 2005 visit from 18-
20 Indian delegates. While dairy was a focus for China, India will be
looking at potential products such as wine, vegetables, cooking oils,
meat and fruits.

McNair Produces Results: Now in its 11th year, the McNair
Scholars program at UW-Whitewater is helping more and more first-
generation and low-income students achieve their dreams of
becoming college professors. Of the nearly 100 graduates of McNair
since 1993, 80 students have gone on to graduate school, with 42 of
them completing master’s degrees. Another 13 students are currently
enrolled in Ph.D. programs, with another five students going on to
earn a Ph.D.

Bringing World Affairs Home: For the 28th year,
UW-Whitewater has been a drawing card for talented and politically
engaged high school students around the nation and world. The
World Affairs Seminar drew more than 800 students in June, and its
focus on understanding conflict took on added depth with the war in Iraq.

Wheelchair Hoops Flying High: UW-Whitewater’s
diversity mission includes unmatched programs that serve students
with disabilities — and “unmatched” is certainly a word that fits the
Warhawk Wheelchair Basketball team. The team successfully
defended its Intercollegiate National Championship title on March 12-
13, bringing home the fifth championship in school history and
earning back-to-back titles for the first time.