Chancellor Saunders outlines vision for campus
Released: November 18, 2005
After three months of getting to know the strengths, hopes and dreams of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Chancellor Martha Saunders presented her vision for the university’s future and the results from planning activities at a campus meeting held yesterday (Thursday, Nov. 17) at 3:30 p.m. in the Hamilton Center, located in the James R. Connor University Center.
“In my very short time here, I have found a wonderful eagerness on this campus, a need to throw off constraints, to leap the barriers between us and our vision for this university,” Saunders said.
Interviews, surveys and campus summits showed the university is perceived as a student-centered environment that suits both living and learning. Increased resources and a sense of place were among hopes for the future. Saunders gathered several themes the university should continue to work toward including diversity, community building, integrated learning, personal and professional success, earned resources and accessibility. Undergraduate research, internships and service learning were among the opportunities Saunders suggested the university increase in order to improve some of these themes.
“I believe that we can take visions and turn them into actions,” she said. “Consider yourselves unleashed. I ask that you follow the consultative process and respond to the inquiries of the strategic planning and budget committee.”
Saunders plans to reconvene the strategic planning and budget committee and develop a clear, concise map by March 2006 for the university to follow in order to achieve its goals. The committee will be co-chaired by Saunders and Provost Richard Telfer and will include the following individuals:
- Representatives from academic, administrative and student affairs
- Representatives from university advancement
- Both non-instructional and instructional staff from the academic staff assembly
- Four faculty representatives
- Two student representatives appointed by the Whitewater Student Government
- Representatives from intercollegiate athletics
- Representatives of classified and non-represented employees
Along with reaffirming the appointees of the faculty senate and student government, the Chancellor will also make additional appointments to the committee as needed to ensure all voices of the university are heard.
Saunders will hold a follow-up meeting in March to evaluate and present the campus with her strategic planning progress.
A Platform For Planning 2005: view the Presentation here.
- Cassandra Sura,suracc09@uww.edu
