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Case Studies

The 2011-13 biennial budget (Act 32) of the State of Wisconsin requires the reporting of accountability measures by UW System institutions. Listed below are the legislated accountability measures requiring institutional case studies.

Placement of Graduates and Post-Graduation Success:

Institutional Example:   UW-Whitewater Fiscal and Economic Research Center
Case Manager/Author:   Dr. Russell Kashian, Director
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students

The mission of the Fiscal and Economic Research Center (FERC) is to tap into University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty expertise and provide outreach services to members of the regional community. In achieving this mission, FERC provides high-caliber students with the opportunity to work closely with faculty experts in applying concepts and theories to practical, real-world cases. Practical project-based work not only enhances students' educational experience, but it also maximizes their value to future employers by providing them with an economic tool-set applicable in modern firms. The FERC employed 19 students during the 2020-21 academic year, and FERC alums secured positions in the following companies: Conlon Commercial Realty, Shorewest Realty, U.S. Bank, EAB Education Advisory Solutions, and Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) among others.

Institutional Example:   UW-Whitewater Institute for Sales Excellence
Case Manager/Author:   Dr. Jimmy Peltier, Director
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare and Place Students in Internships and Jobs

In support of the mission of the College of Business and Economics and the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, the Institute for Sales Excellence seeks to become the preeminent sales institute/center in the Midwest. The Institute will prepare ethically responsible students of the highest caliber, create strong relationships with industry, and serve as a valuable regional resource.

Through non-credit Certificate Programs, Sales Competitions, Institute Career Fairs, Mentor Program, Partners in the Classroom, and an Internship Program, students were placed in several companies including ABC Supply, Acurite, CED, CH Robinson, Colony Brands, Cottingham & Butler, Diversatek, Fastenal, Federated Insurance, FIS, Gartner, Impact, J. J. Keller & Associates, Kohl’s Northwestern Mutual, Paycom, PepsiCo, Prent, Spacesaver, Techtronic Industries, TEK Systems, The Sherwin-Williams Company, and several others.

Institutional Example:   Center for Economic Education
Case Manager/Author:   David Bashaw, Professor, Department of Economics
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students

The Center for Economic Education within the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Department of Economics aims to promote high quality teaching of Economics and Consumer Economics at all levels of schooling (K-12) in the State of Wisconsin in general and in the local counties in particular. The Center does this through the provision of training in Economic Education for current and prospective teachers of Economics and Consumer Economics and through research in this field. The Center’s mission coincides with the University’s mission in the provision of continuing education and outreach programs as integrated institutional activities. The Center’s mission coincides with COBE’s mission statement in developing and sustaining partnerships with key stakeholders that lead to mutually beneficial opportunities for students, alumni, faculty, businesses and the regional community.

Institutional Example:   Institute for International Business Collaboration
Case Manager/Author:   Carol Scovotti, Professor, Department of Marketing
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students

The Institute for International Business Collaboration (IIBC) within the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Department of Marketing aims to help students better prepare to face the cultural challenges of a global work world by providing international experience and increased cultural awareness through virtual and on-site international business collaborations. During the 2020-21 academic year, the IIBC provided virtual international collaborations for 224 students. The IIBC also provides faculty with the training and resources they need to integrate international collaborative experiences in and out of the classroom.

Institutional Example:   Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
Case Manager/Author:   Carol Brunt, Assistant Professor, Department of Management
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students

The Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies within the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Management. In preparing students to contribute meaningfully to society, the UW-Whitewater Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies provides a forum for the promotion of nonprofit management studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and within the larger community. Its aim is to encourage research, expand educational opportunities, and grow technical assistance capacity to support the nonprofit sector in the region. The Institute contributes to the College of Business and Economics (COBE)'s nonprofit management studies program in its support of community engagement, student development, and faculty research. The Institute secures paid internships for its senior students; internship partners in 2020-21 included YouthWorks, Downtown Janesville, Inc., Rock County Historical Society, Rise Youth and Family Services, Project Hugs, and Our Generations, Inc. Alums secured management positions in United Way of Dane County and Habitat for Humanity Restore Aurora.

Institutional Example:   Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Case Manager/Author:   Kaia Fowler, Director
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) provides students training in market research analysis, digital marketing, editing and project management. Students receive coaching and customized development plans to support their education and career goals. WISC intentionally provides opportunities for them to advance and build their resumes for better post-graduation jobs. WISC also supports the university’s goal to strengthen relationships and partnerships through support of business development locally and regionally. WISC employed 15 students during the 2020-21 academic year, and two of its recent graduates secured positions at Publishing Concepts, Inc. and Gordon Flesch Company.

Success or Failure in Recruiting Faculty:

Institutional Example: College of Business and Economics
Case Manager/Author:
Core Strategy(ies): Success or Failure in Recruiting Faculty

The Information Technology and Supply Chain Management Department hired one faculty member to start Fall 2021, and retained 13 faculty and 4 academic staff. One faculty member will retire in August 2021.
The Finance and Business Law Department retained 14 faculty. One faculty member retired in May 2021. There were no new hires.
The Accounting Department retained 18 faculty/academic staff and an Academic Department Associate. There were no departures and no new hires.
The Marketing Department retained all 10 of its faculty, and 4 academic staff. One academic staff was lost, and one DBA student will have a one-year appointment as a temporary replacement.
The Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health Department hired a new Assistant Professor, one full-time academic staff retired, and one part-time academic staff was not renewed.
The Management Department retained 17 faculty and 9 academic staff in 2020-21. There were no hires and 2 academic staff departures.

New Business Created or Spun Off:

Institutional Example:   Small Business Development Center and Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Case Manager/Author:   Kevin Kaufman, Small Business Development Center and Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Core Strategy(ies):     Well-paying Jobs

UW-Whitewater is dedicated to supporting small business success through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and partnerships with economic development throughout the region. The SBDC at UW-Whitewater helps small business owners and entrepreneurs gain knowledge, tools and connections that build success. Through no-cost consulting, business education, customized solutions, and regional expertise, SBDCs support job creation and retention and assist with capital formation. In fiscal year 2020-21, UW-Whitewater SBDC served 277 total clients, helped client businesses retain 112 jobs, create 34 new fulltime jobs, and raise $11,673,000 in capital infusion. The SBDC also supported 14 new business starts and $3,500,000 in sales growth.

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) provides business growth and new product commercialization market research to inventors, manufacturers and other small businesses. This business outreach service utilizes the knowledge and talent of UW-Whitewater student employees as well as professional staff to provide market information that supports sales and employment growth. WISC served 13 clients from inventors exploring product potential to multinational companies seeking insights on buyer preferences and requirements. Cottage industry ecommerce stores sought digital marketing action plans, and an engineering firm sought a licensing partner for their newly patented technology.

Support Provided to Existing Industries Within the State:

Client: Lake Geneva Women’s Weekend
Case Manager/Author:   Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies):     Stronger Communities and Collaborations

Client: StriveOn
Case Manager/Author:   Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies):     Collaborations

Client: Rock River Stormwater Group (RRSG)
Case Manager/Author:   Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies):     Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited (CMU), work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. The AMA/CMU assisted the Rock River Stormwater Group with several projects related to the Protect Wisconsin Waterways campaign to reduce pollution in the basin’s waterways and educate the public on making a difference. The RRSG is a coalition of 11 municipalities, and the City of Watertown joined the group due to CMU’s branding and public education efforts. CMU’s support of the Protect Wisconsin Waterways project include: 1) Clean-up - Each year CMU develops a waterway clean-up event to encourage community groups and residents to clean up local waterways 2) Digital Marketing – created a digital video series titled “Stormwater 101”, a video campaign called “Why I #ProtectWIWaterways”, and continued with monthly newsletter creation and distribution, and website maintenance. 3) RRSG Annual Report – CMU is responsible for a summary report of its marketing and education outreach for RRSG that is then submitted to the Wisconsin DNR. CMU’s marketing efforts reached 184,403 in 2020, a 14.5% increase over 2019. 4) Outreach – CMU assists RRSG in developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships across RRSG locations through community programming, promotional materials, and outreach to local businesses and organizations. They developed 10 new partnerships and four collaborative campaigns that reached over 50,000 partner members in 2020.

Client: Dovetail Acres Campground
Case Manager/Author:   Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies):     Collaborations

Client: Walton Rental Properties, RR Walton Construction, Walton Sand & Gravel
Case Manager/Author:   Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies):     Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. CMU assisted Walton Rental Properties to optimize and redesign its website to increase inquiries, assisted RR Walton Construction to redesign its website to increase leads, and redesigned and optimized Walton Sand and Gravel’s site.

Client: PC Face Shield
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. CMU created a marketing plan and promotional materials for PC Face Shield, a new PPE product line. CMU created over 20 social media graphics, 9 email campaigns, and 2 videos since October, and is creating ongoing digital marketing content.

Client: Prent Corporation
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. CMU has been engaged by Prent, a global leader in thermoforming packaging to conduct market research on the thermoforming packaging industry for pre-filled syringes and other pharmaceutical components.

Client: WILL Inclusion and Learning
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. WILL empowers businesses to achieve disability inclusion and equality. AMA designed marketing material to assist in the promotion of the WILL Forum event. The digital marketing had 2,371 views, and they recruited 27 participants for the for forum.

Client: Quetzal Collaborative
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. AMA teamed with a school in Guatemala, L.A. Union, to help young women start their own businesses.

Client: Second Harvest
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. AMA partnered with Second Harvest to run a donation campaign, and raised $1500 through emails, text messages, and social media.

Client: Project Kiran (Shakti)
Case Manager/Author: Jimmy Peltier, Advisor, American Marketing Association
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association and its sister organization, Creative Marketing Unlimited, work with regional businesses through the development of marketing plans, implementation of plans, marketing research, and event planning. AMA partnered with UW-Whitewater Enactus to support a pilot program called Shakti that trains women in India to provide eye care to individuals in remote areas. UW-Whitewater Enactus subsequently won the National Enactus competition for this program.

Client: Whitewater Arts Alliance
Case Manager/Author: UW-Whitewater Business Outreach
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

Business Outreach placed a student intern with the Whitewater Arts Alliance to assist with marketing, community engagement, and program development, and to further develop the relationship between the Whitewater Arts Alliance, the university’s Art and Design Department, and the art student population. The arts are a key industry in tourism and strengthening the WAA’s profile in the area will help draw outside dollars to the community.

Client: The Black Sheep
Case Manager/Author: UW-Whitewater Business Outreach
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

Business Outreach provided a marketing student intern from the UW-Whitewater campus professional marketing fraternity PSE for a local restaurant, The Black Sheep. The internship helped the intern gain additional real-world marketing experience, and supported one of Whitewater’s community-oriented businesses (they provided free lunches for families in need during the pandemic) by helping them keep connected with clients during a difficult time.

Client: Downtown Janesville, Inc.
Case Manager/Author: Carol Brunt, Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies placed a student intern with Downtown Janesville, Inc (DJI). DJI “provides direction and organization for the continued growth and development of Janesville’s historic downtown.” DJI has been key in revitalizing Janesville’s downtown, bringing more tourism and retail dollars to southeastern Wisconsin. The student intern provides support for these initiatives through special event management, volunteer management and general administration and is gaining valuable work experience in nonprofit management.

Client: Rise Youth and Family Services
Case Manager/Author: Carol Brunt, Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies placed a student intern with RISE Youth and Family Services. RISE provides mentoring, crisis stabilization, outpatient and in-home therapy, group therapy, training and professional development, and parent advocacy to foster “resilience, independence, safety, and education in individuals and families.” The intern supported the mission through administrative support and volunteer management, thus contributing to the health of the community.

Client: Project HUGS Foundation
Case Manager/Author: Carol Brunt, Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
Core Strategy(ies): Stronger Communities and Collaborations

The Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies placed a student intern with the Project HUGS Foundation. Project HUGS provides underinsured individuals with surgical care. The intern did general administration and fundraising for the organization, again contributing to the health of the community while preparing for her career in nonprofit management.

Institutional Example: Small Business Development Center and Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Case Manager/Author: Kevin Kaufman, Small Business Development Center and Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Core Strategy(ies): Well-paying Jobs

Job Growth From Support to Existing Industries and New Businesses:

Number of Jobs Created in Campus Areas and State:

Institutional Example:   Cybersecurity Center for Business
Case Manager/Author:   Brian Dennis, Director, Cybersecurity Center for Business
Core Strategy(ies):     Well-paying Jobs

The Cybersecurity Center for Business (CCB) offers cybersecurity education, training, and resources for businesses, educational institutions, and governments. Two of the programs offered by the CCB include an Apprentice Program to train cybersecurity professionals and create new jobs, and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification which will provide training for the auditors and certifiers, also creating new jobs. The CCB has already resulted in new jobs for campus: a Business Development Officer for the CCB and a new faculty member for Information Technology and Supply Chain Management to teach cybersecurity. UW-Whitewater also offers a Master’s of Science in Cybersecurity, and an undergraduate minor in Cybersecurity, preparing students for a growing field with thousands of well-paid jobs available for cybersecurity professionals.

Comparison of Economic Indicators for Campus and Other Areas:

Institutional Example:   UW-Whitewater Fiscal and Economic Research Center (FERC)
Case Manager/Author:   Russell Kashian, Director
Core Strategy(ies):     Prepare Students, Stronger Communities, and Collaborations

The mission of the FERC is to tap into University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty expertise and provide outreach services to members of the regional community. FERC student researchers conduct practical project-based work which enhances their educational experience and maximizes their value to future employers.

The FERC partnered with NextEra Energy to evaluate the economic impact of Point Place nuclear power.
The FERC collaborated with Capital Analytics to evaluate the economic impact of aircraft leasing.
The FERC worked with The Greater Milwaukee Foundation to evaluate the economic impact of its grants and programs.
The FERC collaborated with the Wisconsin Realtor Association to evaluate the economic impact of the eviction moratorium related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The FERC analyzed the impact of Door County tax elasticity for the Door County Tourism Zone Commission.
The FERC partnered with Dodge County to evaluate Dodge County’s affordable housing availability.
The FERC contracted with the USDA to conduct a market and feasibility study of a specialty crop in Wisconsin.
The FERC conducted an employment study for Jefferson County.
The FERC evaluated the economic impact of the Oregon Soccer Club.
The FERC is evaluating the economic impact of a STEM Bootcamp for the UW-Whitewater Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.