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Monday Update Messages | Spring 2020

Please see below for Monday Update messages from the spring 2020 semester. Click here for the fall 2019 semester.

Colleagues:

This is the first of a three-part series that will provide basic information about our budget and related funding sources. Each part will address basic “need to know” information for those managing or administering a budget within the UW System. The three parts are:

               Part 1 – Base Budget Authority & Funding Sources

               Part 2 – A Closer Look at State and Tuition Funding

               Part 3 – Budget Rules We Need to Know and Follow

Did you know the total base operating budget approved for the Parkside campus for FY20 is a little over $100 million? This amount is up almost 4% over the base budget authority received for FY19. Our base operating budget is dependent on, and directly impacted by, the underlying funding sources supporting the budget. But not all of the funding sources supporting our base budget are available for general operations. 

Some of the funding (budget authority) we received is restricted for specific purposes. Any unused funding that is restricted for a specific purpose generally lapses. This means the budget authority granted ceases. The funding cannot be used for any other purpose. For example, much of the financial aid budget we receive is restricted and can only be used for student financial aid.

Some sources of funding are not specifically restricted, but we receive the funding with the understanding that the funds should be used for the purpose for which they were given. Examples of funding we consider designated includes student fees, housing rents, and meal plan revenue.

The following should give you some understanding of the various funding sources that contribute to the success of our campus. One thing we need to remember is that the “fund” in a funding string identifies the source and type of funding being used. While the source and type of funding may influence or even control how we spend those funds, a “fund” is not determined or defined by how we spend those resources.

Did you know:

  • A little over $30 million of the $100 million base operating budget is earmarked for student financial aid. In fact, most of the $30 million is from the federal government and is restricted. These funds can only be used for student financial aid. It should be noted that this amount does not represent all the financial aid available to our students. There are other sources of financial aid awarded to our students that do not flow through our budget.
  • In addition to federal financial aid for our students, we receive federal grants supporting faculty and student research. Totally federal funding budgeted for our campus is approximately $31 million.
  • About $16 million in program revenue (excluding tuition) is received annually, primarily from students, but also from other users, for various services provided by our campus. These funds support operating budgets used to provide services such as housing, meal plans, and parking. Student fees also help support student center activities and some athletic activities.
  • Approximately $26 million of our operating budget is supported by tuition revenue. Tuition, as you know, is tied to enrollment. Variations in enrollment directly impacts our budgeted spending authority. This basically means, even though we have a budget, we cannot spend it unless we have (or at least anticipate having) the revenue.
  • Another $26 million of our operating budget is funded by the State of Wisconsin. Yes, only 26% of our $100 million base operating budget comes from the State. These funds, along with the tuition funding, provide the primary source of funding for the core operating budgets allocated to many of the departments on campus, commonly referred to as Fund 102. We will take a closer look at how the state and tuition resources are utilized on our campus in Part 2 of this series.

One last point. In addition to the approximately $100 million base operating budget we receive annually, the campus also benefits from capital funds that are appropriated through the capital budgeting process. The capital budgeting process is totally separate from the regular biennial budgeting process that determines our base operating budget. Capital projects includes large projects such as the Wyllie Renovation, as well as smaller repair or maintenance projects in our heating and chilling plant that typically go unnoticed by most of us on campus. The amount of capital funding the campus receives varies significantly depending on the number and sizes of projects approved.

Scott Menke
Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration

Colleagues:

Can you believe it – we’re already starting week three of the Spring 2020 Semester. There is so much great news to share about enrollment, new partnerships, a new look coming to one of our flagship learning environments, and a very special Spring Commencement on the horizon. I invite you to take a few minutes and learn more about how you help make UW-Parkside such an amazing learning community – click here.

Colleagues:

Campus leadership is looking out into the future and planning projects through the 2025-2027 biennium, driving the “ambitious and necessary transformation” of our campus. We recently presented our priorities to those responsible for capital planning at UW System. Capital initiatives identified in the 2021-2027 Capital Plan are listed below. Dates listed for each project are proposed in the Capital Plan recently submitted on November 15.

Boiler #3 and #4 Replacement (July 2021 – June 2022)

The central Heating & Chilling Plant was constructed in 1971. Boilers #3 and #4 were moved to that location following three years of service in a temporary Heating & Chilling Plant. The boilers use inefficient, obsolete technology and need to be replaced.

Sections of the Sports & Activity Center Roof (July 2021 – June 2022)

Sections of the roof are approaching the end of their useful life. Old antiquated ballast roof technology needs to be removed and the insulation value of the roof needs to be improved.

Greenquist Science Labs U363/U365 (July 2022 – June 2023)

The Campus Master Plan states that “the quality of classrooms and teaching laboratories is a concern.” Greenquist teaching laboratories U363 and U365 represent two such spaces. They are outdated. This project will update these spaces to increase class sizes, modernize equipment being utilized to teach students, and facilitate modern teaching pedagogy by allowing group seating pods versus linear benches.

Wyllie Renovation – Phase II (July 2023 – June 2025)

The top overall priority for the campus in the 2021-2027 Capital Plan is the Wyllie Hall Renovation Phase II project aimed at completing the renewal work started in Phase I. This project will also complete the top overall building renewal need outlined in the Campus Master Plan. This project will address the efficiency of the mechanical systems on the L2 and L3 levels of Wyllie Hall as well as updating network cabling in the building.

Campus Network Cabling Upgrade (July 2025 – June 2026)

Most of the existing CAT 5 cabling on campus was installed in 1995. Current signal readings on the CAT 5 cable indicate most existing cable on campus is failing. Cabling runs of 300 feet or more, which affect signal reliability and strength, exist in Wyllie, Greenquist and Molinaro halls and need to be shortened. These issues will create bottlenecks in network throughput and reliability as digital communication demands continue to grow. Student reliance on the technology infrastructure has been steadily increasing. Students have high expectations for internet access and typically bring between two and four devices to campus, which demand a much more robust and reliable infrastructure than UW-Parkside is currently able to provide. The campus has increased its online class offerings, most notably with the recent addition of an online MBA program, and is working to increase other distance education offerings that will rely on this infrastructure. 

Geenquist Hall Renovation (July 2025 – June 2027)

Greenquist is the oldest building on campus, serving as the science building for the campus. The Campus Master Plan identified Greenquist as the second priority for building renovations. The renovation would focus on facility function and efficiency, as well as increasing the variety of learning environments.

Greenhouse Repair and Renovation (July 2026 – June 2027)

Built in 1977, the Greenhouse is essential to the overall maintenance of the campus grounds. It is also used by biology faculty and students, for cultivating plants for study. The building structure contains asbestos and lead paint. Lack of adequate temperature controls and operational windows impede the ability of the campus to grow and maintain plantings for campus grounds.

Sports & Activity Center Fieldhouse Flooring (July 2026 – June 2027)

The fieldhouse flooring, which is heavily utilized by intercollegiate athletics as well as high school athletics and expos, is deteriorating and has five years of expected life remaining.

Scott Menke

Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration

ghaH 'ej Duvan jup!

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AT UW-PARKSIDE

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are an increasingly ubiquitous technology in modern society. GIS allows academics, governments, and businesses the ability to map and analyze spatial data, as well as build and manage large spatial databases. The demand for GIS is growing. The U.S. government predicts GIS will be in high demand over the next decade, with annual salaries of $70,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts growth of 35 percent a year, with a shortage of trained people to fill the jobs. Currently the geo-services industry is valued at $270 billion and employs over 500,000 people. One attractive feature of GIS careers is that many of the skills involved are transferable to many industry sectors, giving a broad base of job options and career choices.

EXPANDED GIS LAB
In fall 2019, a new, expanded GIS lab opened on the second floor of Molinaro Hall. Already filling to capacity, the lab houses 30 dual-monitor PCs running ESRI GIS software. The room has an interactive smart board and two ceiling mounted screen displays. In addition to the new lab space, the GIS program is expanding out to the field. With two Juniper Geode GPS units with smartphones and portable WiFi for data collection and a Phantom 4 Pro v2 Mapping drone, students will be able to do applied data mapping and analysis

John Ward, director of the GIS lab and GIS Factory, is obtaining a Part 107 Certification from the FAA to teach with a drone and use it for research. Students will be able to take a course that includes the material for certification so that they can apply for individual licenses. 

NEW GIS FACTORY    

The GIS factory, collocated with the GIS Lab, was planned in collaboration with CBEC and the App Factory. The GIS Factory uses the same model as the App Factory - establish an entrepreneurial context for students to work on client-based projects. Students not only practice and improve their GIS skills; they also learn valuable work related skills such as meeting deadlines, accommodating client needs in efficient and cost-saving approaches, and project cost/time estimation. There are two levels of student workers in the Factory – GIS technicians and GIS analysts. GIS technicians perform data entry and cartography while the analysts perform data processing and advanced analysis. Having two levels of GIS employees also serves to educate the students on the difference between entry and more advanced positions. 

PROJECTS
In the past three years, the number of projects undertaken through classes in the GIS lab or the GIS Factory have increased. Current Lab projects include work for the Brass Community School and the Uptown Brass Village neighborhood group in Kenosha. GIS factory projects include work for the Root River Council, UW-Parkside Facilities Management, and the Alumni Office.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The Department is currently planning on embedding GIS into a Cultural Resource Management Certificate. Also, a new summer course “Forensic Anthropology: Introduction to Recovery and Analysis” will utilize GIS to locate and excavate a lifesize skeleton model. There will be a synergy between a planned anthropology major and GIS in the coming years, and the recent successful development of an online course in GIS will make it easier for students to earn a certificate in GIS.

And if we really want to talk about the future … see this frakking good map of the united federation of planets!

Colleagues,

The disruptions to our professional and personal lives in the past month have been significant. Even so, last Monday our students returned to class. Our dedicated faculty began a new way of sharing information. And, in about six weeks, another record class of graduates will receive a University of Wisconsin-Parkside degree.

Thank you for a tremendous amount of dedication to maintain the mission of our institution while protecting the health and safety of our campus community and the communities we serve. I invite you to take a few minutes and learn more about what’s new in the College of Natural and Health Sciences.  

Earlier today, I shared this video message with students and faculty on Canvas. Week 2 of #SevenforSuccess is under way – thank you for all you do to help our students succeed.

Debbie Ford
Chancellor

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Master’s degrees in the College of Natural and Health Sciences

In the past eight years, master’s degree programs in CNHS have grown from one to seven. These include:

  1. Applied Biotechnology - collaborative online started spring 2020
  2. Healthcare Administration - collaborative online started spring 2019
  3. Clinical Mental Health Counseling - started fall 2018
  4. Sport Management - started 2017
  5. Health and Wellness Management – collaborative online started fall 2016
  6. Sustainable Management – collaborative online started 2012
  7. Biological Sciences – started fall 2018; expansion of the previous Master of Science in Applied Molecular Biology (started 1988) with concentrations in Applied Molecular Biology and Ecology and Evolution

Enrollment in graduate programs has increased from approximately three to five students each year to 115 in spring 2020 (an increase of more than 2,000 percent). The number of graduates has risen from an average of two per academic year to 22 in the 2018-2019 academic year (1,000 percent increase). The college has partnered with Academic Partnerships starting in fall 2020 to recruit students for the online master’s degree in Sport Management. We anticipate 13 to 15 students each of the six starts in a calendar year.

RUSCH (Rural and Urban Scholars in Community Health) Program/Partnership

UW-Parkside is entering its eighth year in our partnership with UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health in this two-year research/community health/pre-medical program. The program is designed to increase undergraduate students’ awareness and interest in pursuing careers in healthcare focused on issues of access, equity, and diversity with a focus on both urban and rural communities. 

Students in this program gain experiences over two consecutive summers: one experience is an eight-week Community Based Healthcare Internship, the other is an intensive eight-week Clinical Research Experience with faculty from UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health. In addition to these experiences, student have access to enrichment opportunities involving their applications to medical and professional health programs.

Some data/numbers from the past eight years:

  1. We have had 34 students complete both years of the program
  2. Of those 34 students, 25 have applied to professional health or related graduate programs
  3. Of those 25, 24 have been accepted – a 96% placement rate.
  4. The one student not accepted has a job in a related field
  5. The breakdown of the 24 students regarding their professional health or related graduate programs:
    • Medical School - 13
    • Physician Assistant programs - 6
    • Nursing programs (BS/MS) - 3
    • Podiatry School - 1
    • Graduate School - 1
  6. In 2019, we had another three students complete their first year of the program and will be applying to professional health programs in the summer of 2020

In 2020, we have another five students who will begin their first year of the RUSCH program.

Emmanuel Otu
Dean, College of Natural and Health Sciences
Professor of Chemistry

Colleagues,

UW-Parkside identified student success as an important strategic priority. As we navigate through our new reality, it couldn’t be more important to remain focused on improving outcomes and closing equity gaps. This week, we highlight collaborative student success efforts across the region.

Parkside is an active partner with our local Strive Together organizations – Building our Future (BOF) and Higher Expectations for Racine County (HE). This engagement has helped inform our thinking, connect us in new ways, and increased our capacity. Here are a few examples:

Here is what we have learned through our work thus far:

  • Institutions in our region are more alike than different
  • The students we serve are more alike than different
  • There is much to learn from the other institutions in the region

But most importantly, we are stronger working together.

DeAnn Possehl
Assistant Provost Student Success

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From Chancellor Debbie Ford –

Week 3 #SevenForSuccess video update, including comments from UW-Parkside student Gabby Richardson

Video

Colleagues,

The most prominent activities in the College of Business, Economics, and Computing (CBEC) over the last month relate to gearing up for the switch to telecommuting and alternative learning delivery. CBEC’s long experience with distance education through the online MBA programs, online business degree completion program, Flex BSBA, and the project management certificate facilitated the transition. Faculty are using a variety of techniques to reach their students including asynchronous delivery, podcasts, and live delivery through Collaborate Ultra, Webex, and Zoom.

In addition to transitioning their own classes, CBEC faculty created a Canvas course for faculty and staff to facilitate discussion of leading practices, technology tips, and student engagement. In addition, faculty mentors and volunteers host a twice per week video conference to share ideas.

Students have also risen to the challenge. For example, students have taken the initiative to use Microsoft Teams to work on projects, help each other on homework and socialize. Community based learning continues to be a strength of CBEC through online interviews and video conference presentations. The first couple of weeks, CBEC has experienced good student engagement, but this is continuing to be monitored to make sure that the initial enthusiasm does not taper off.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Besides the classroom, CBEC is reaching out to the community through the SBDC. The SBDC has been asked by the Small Business Administration to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic by providing information on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, Paycheck Protection Program, and other local and state programs that continue to evolve and become available to small business owners. The UW-Parkside SBDC is listening to webinars to keep up-to-date and has consulted with approximately 70 new and existing clients in order to help them with these Covid-19 programs.

App Factory

The award-winning UW-Parkside App Factory is still running despite the COVID-19 outbreak. While the students, staff, and faculty are not meeting physically, the App Factory holds weekly status meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. This is not a hardship as many of the students meet this way even when campus is open. In addition, student teams meet virtually almost every day and are currently working on a number of high-profile projects. These projects include a complete rewrite/modernization of the Transit App, the App Factory’s first app. Projects are also being developed for HARIBO, UNICO, the Racine Police Department, WiSys, and UW-Parkside. Finally, the App Factory will open again as App Factory 2.0. Led by App Factory students, the App Factory is being remodeled to become friendlier to a diverse workforce.

Research

CBEC faculty continue to perform research, consult, and publish. Sample activities include:

  • Dr. Ling Li’s article, “Workplace Safety and Worker Productivity: Evidence from the MINER Act,” was accepted in the Industrial and Labor Relations Review
  • Dr. Raghava Gundala’ s paper, “An Empirical Examination of the link between CSR and Consumer Purchase Behaviour," was accepted for publication in 'International Journal of Corporate Strategy and Social Responsibility.' He also served as an expert on credits cards at Wallet Hub.
  • Dr. Peter Knight is performing a global study on the preparedness of graduates of sales programs. Dr. Knight reports that the pandemic has enhanced the video conferencing skills of his sales students.
  • Dr. Zaid Altahat has published and presented multiple papers with undergraduate students. The topics include software vulnerabilities, detecting algae, quality of service provisions, and renewable energy.
  • Dr. Terry McGovern is serving as a consultant on digital badges for a human capital development project involving Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida. His papers on digital badges have been accepted for presentation at several conferences including the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, the leading conference in management.

Growth in CBEC Programs

CBEC continues so see strong growth in programs that use alternative delivery methods. The Online MBA started in fall 2018 and is now at 300 online students. The program still also has 87 face-to-face students. The UW Flexible Option Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program started with 32 students in the fall and currently has 49 students enrolled. The online business degree completion program has entered into agreement with UW Extended Campus that will bring additional marketing, instructional designers, and academic success coaches to this program.

WiSys Innovation Challenge: COVID-19

Finally, please take a look at the WiSys Innovation Challenge: COVID-19. WiSys is the commercialization arm of UW System that serves the UW comprehensive universities. WiSys is inviting submission of “innovative ideas to boost local community preparedness and response to pandemics.”

WiSys suggested some questions participants may consider before submitting an idea:

  • How can we support local hospitals and at-home caregivers in the next couple of months and be more prepared for the next crisis?
  • How can we help local businesses survive this and future economic disruptions?
  • Are there supply-chain solutions for high-demand goods that could meet consumer needs in a timely fashion without resorting to stockpiling?
  • Are there better ways to communicate global health information to underserved and elderly populations?
  • What solutions can help us with our physical and mental wellbeing as social and physical distance grows?

This challenge is open to all faculty, staff, students and alumni of the schools that WiSys serves. Submissions of 250 words or less can be made at wisys.org/challenge. The due date is April 24.

WiSys will select 20 innovators who will have two weeks to create a proof-of-concept. They will then receive $100 to implement their idea. WiSys may also provide additional resources to further develop an idea after review of the initial implementation.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

Dirk Baldwin
Dean of the College of Business, Economics, and Computing

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From Chancellor Ford,

Week 4 #SevenforSuccess video update, including links for resources in the description.

The College of Arts and Humanities has been hit hard by the Covid shutdown. So much of our work is communal: we breathe the same air; sit close together; mold materials with our fingers guided by an instructor; we read poetry out loud; we paint gigantic mural-like canvases; we sing together; we travel to Paris; we do swordplay and word play; and so much more. The shutdown has demanded that we reach deep into the well of our creativity—the source of our strength. There, we have discovered extraordinary inventiveness and resilience.

So what are we doing at home? Teaching. A few examples:

  • Professor of Art Lisa Marie Barber asked her ceramics class “to journal” through clay. In the above piece, graphic design student, Mariana Nelson, pays tribute to a favorite discovery. Mariana writes: “The reason why I wanted to do this is because I am a nerd and love graphic design and Adobe XD. I was introduced last semester to Adobe XD by Prof. Swisher and fell in love with it.”
  • Professor of Music Alvaro Garcia spent last weekend on a project to boost our collective spirits, working with colleagues to create a video for campus, called “Postcard” https://vimeo.com/409732430.
  • The Communication Department hosted a virtual open house last Monday at which each professor outlined their course offerings for Fall 2020 as well as described the minor and certificates offered by the Department. They then provided a link to view the open house asynchronistically. Check it out here: https://www.uwp.edu/learn/departments/communication/comm-openhouse.cfm
  • Assistant Professor of Music Donna Hewitt reports that Facebook is where it’s at! Members from the National Association for Music Education post encouraging messages to peers along with videos of them practicing. Sharing and commenting on videos from Master Teachers helps bring to life concepts that students would normally engage with in-person as a class.
  • Assistant Professor of Music Laura Rexroth has asked her Wind Ensemble to concentrate on listening skills to help them grow and experience some wind band literature that they would not otherwise be exposed to this semester. In addition to listening to specific pieces and responding to those works, the students will also be allowed to present their own suggestions of works that are worthy of study and performance. They'll post a recording of their selected piece and arguments for why they think the work should be known to their colleagues. There is also a section of the course called the Online Café which is simply an open forum for students to talk to each other during the semester.
  • Despite the shutdown, Assistant Professor of Art Kristen Bartel is moving forward with her Digital Photography and their CBL project in collaboration Assistant Professor Sarah Pina’s Spanish grammar class and Tannette Elie’s Communication 255 course. Last semester, Professor Bartel’s class produced this lovely magazine, Root, in partnership with Visioning a Greater Racine  https://vimeo.com/409002926. We can hardly wait for the second edition!
  • Assistant Professor of Literatures and Languages Sarah Pina and her student Gabby Richardson discussed with Greg Berg, who is the host of the Morning Show on WGDT, the challenges and surprises that students are facing due to Covid 19, especially as they relate to college online. Listen to the interview at the Morning Show website.
  • Gallery Director and Curator Colin Matthes and Assistant Gallery Director Glen Larson moved our fall and spring exhibition season online, including beautifully produced in-house catalogs. Take a look: https://www.uwp.edu/therita/artgalleries.cfm
  • And finally, we are sending out video messages of encouragement from faculty to all of our majors this week, urging students to finish strong, reach out if they’re having difficulties, and register for fall! Thanks to Lisa Marie Barber, Russ Johnson, Mary Lenard (and Bingley), Tom Berenz, Sarah Pina, Theresa Castor, and Misti Bradford.

So what are we doing at home? Research. Creative Activities. A few examples:

  • Professor James Crowley recently composed a challenging new percussion work for solo marimba entitled Tarantella.  The tarantella was a fast-paced and frenetic Italian folk-dance, and this new work draws upon many of those original rhythms combined with a modern harmonic sensibility.
  • Assistant Professor Donna Hewitt. Visions of Research in Music Education; Powell, B., Hewitt, D., Smith, G. D., Olesko, B., & Davis, V. (2020). Curricular Change in Collegiate Programs: Toward a More Inclusive Music Education. Visions of Research in Music Education, 35. Retrieved from http://www.rider.edu/~vrme.
  • Professor Lisa Marie Barber. Solo show at Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Susan Block Gallery, in Michigan City; An installation in the NCECA Annual Exhibition in Richmond, VA. NCECA—main organization for Ceramic Arts in the U.S. and beyond; Won second place at the “Gallery on 16th”, 16th Street Studios, Racine; Accepted into “Art from the Heartland” 9-state competitive regional exhibition in Indianapolis, IN, which will open late June.
  • Associate Professor Dana Oswald continues to make significant progress on her book, tentatively titled, Old English Maternal Bodies; during this sabbatical semester she has completed 3 out of the 4 major book chapters.
  • Associate Professor Josef Benson, Star Wars: The Triumph of Nerd Culture (Rowman & Littlefield) is slated for publication October 1, 2020.; The Sniper: A Cultural Reading of Jeffrey Dahmer (UP of Kentucky) is due January 31.2020.
  • Professors Josef Benson and Doug Singsen, The Invisible Costume: Whiteness and the Construction of Race in American Comics and Graphic Novels (UP of Mississippi) is under final review.
  • Assistant Professor Fabrice Conte-Williamson is collaborating with David Bellos on a translation of Mauvaise Saison sur l’Olympe by Ismail Kadare, who will be awarded the 2020 Neustadt Prize in the fall.
  • Assistant Professor Brian Gill participated in an online panel via Zoom with TITAN Theatre Company (an Off Broadway Theatre) discussing ways in which the Theatre can adapt, survive and inspire in a time of pandemic; organized an international Zoom play reading of Shakespeare's As You Like It, consisting of fellow Shakespeare's Globe alums from across the United States, London and New Zealand; I have been invited to participate in Southwest Shakespeare Company's MayZoom play readings of Henry IV parts 1 & 2 (roles to be determined).
  • Professor Theresa Castor's paper, On streams and lakes: Metaventriloquism and the technologies of a water controversy will be published in the July issue of Language and Dialogue. In addition, Dr. Castor has had papers accepted for (virtual) presentation in July at the European Group for Organization Studies conference (hosted in Germany) and in September at the International Association for Dialogue Analysis (hosted in Poland). 
  • Professors Adrienne Viramontes and Theresa Castor will be publishing a chapter on first generation college students and high-impact practices in a book that has been accepted for publication by Stylus publishers.

So what are we doing at home? Planning. A few examples:

  • The Communication Department is very excited to announce that the Master of Arts in Professional Communication is now awaiting the UW Board of Regents approval that we expect in August. The fully online program will launch spring semester 2021.
  • The Liberal Studies Program has revamped its major, readying itself for a significant reboot come fall 2020.
  • The Department of Theatre Arts continues to add internships to its array of professional opportunities for theatre students. In addition to the current internships with America Player’s Theatre, in Spring Green, WI, and with Renaissance TheatreWorks in Milwaukee, they have added internships at the Forward Theatre Company in Madison. Additionally, Theatre Arts has been finalizing plans for the 2020-2021 to open with the rescheduled repertory productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).
  • We are glad to announce that our proposal to reboot the Arts Education Licensure was recently approved by IPED and sent to DPI. Thanks go to Kristen Bartel, Carey Watters, and Dana Ryan for seeing this process through. Fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.
  • We have been working steadily on the redesign of our Graphic Design spaces that will complete what we hope to inaugurate in fall 2020: The Creative Corridor.  It stretches from the music wing, where Digital Media and Production or DMAP will house their video and sound studios and computer lab, to the L1 hallway where the language lab was located.  Along with the language lab, a suite of classrooms have been converted into Graphic Design and User Experience labs and a production studio that will support our growing major in Graphic Design as well as the Digital Design and Fabrication Certificate and the DMAP minor.

Final words from home.

When terrible things befall us humans, we often turn to music for inspiration, for fun, for consolation and solace. As we start another week with Covid, let’s begin with these grace notes from the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Alvaro Garcia and his viola, playing J.S. Bach’s Suite No. 1, Allemande (second movement) from the Cello Suites. Have a good week!

Vimeo

Take care, be safe, and stay in touch,

Lesley H. Walker
Professor of Literatures and Languages
Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities

Colleagues,

In mid-March, when the campus closed to keep us healthy and teaching continued remotely, I worried we could see significant student attrition. Several studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that, generally, attrition rates for online courses are higher than for face-to-face.

With a far greater proportion of our undergraduate (than master’s) programs delivered face-to-face, the abrupt transition to online delivery was fraught with challenges. Nevertheless, there was no choice and, within two weeks, all 1,566 group class sections on the schedule were ready for online or alternative delivery.

Since mid-March, UW-Parkside’s headcount enrollment fell by 20 students, or under .5 percent and is still 5.4 percent above last Spring’s level. Currently, Summer enrollment is tracking 12.9 percent ahead of last year. I know I’ll never understand all each of you did to keep students engaged, supported, and learning, but somehow you did and, as we begin the last week of classes, I want to express that I could not be prouder or more appreciative of each of you.

As the term closes, our joy is muted without Commencement and with furlough announcements on UW campuses across the state. But the Chancellor, her team, and other campus leaders are mobilizing for a summer of planning to continue to chart our way through the health and economic crises we face and to help ensure UW-Parkside emerges from the pandemic even better positioned to flourish in the future.

Rob Ducoffe
Provost & Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs

“We’re Here for You” Video Messages to Students

Faculty and Staff send messages of support:

Support Message

A message from OMSA:

OMSA

From Chancellor Ford,

Click here for the Week 7 #SevenforSuccess video update. UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford congratulates students on completing the last seven weeks of the virtual spring semester.

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UW-Parkside Archives Announces COVID-19 Documentation Project

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Archives has announced that it will be documenting the experiences of Parkside students, staff, and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently accepting contributions. As part of this project, staff will be collecting photographs, videos, audio recordings, digital art, and other digital documentation detailing how the Parkside campus community has been affected. Read more.

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Welcome, Class of 2020, to the Parkside Alumni Community

This month we celebrate another group of UW-Parkside students completing their degrees and joining the ranks of more than 25,000 UW-Parkside alumni. This will not be anything like a typical celebration of what we used to call “The End” when I was completing my degree in 1972. 

Earlier this year the job outlook was bright for this group of graduates given the booming economic growth that was being enjoyed in Southeastern Wisconsin. Now the job market has taken a dramatic downturn due to the impact of COVID-19. The entire UW-Parkside community will need to think about how we can help these graduates find career opportunities, including sources of part-time and paid internships for our continuing students, many of whom have lost their jobs do to the pandemic.

While this class faces uncertainties and our celebrations look different than we planned, we could not be more proud of our graduates. The May 2020 class, our newest Ranger alumni, is another record class of more than 500 students eligible to participate in commencement. The Chancellor’s Award Recipient and the Outstanding Graduates demonstrate the talent, motivation, and perseverance of UW-Parkside graduates. The Chancellor’s Award winner, Zachary Atkins, is a double major in communication and psychology, minoring in ethnic studies, organizational communication, and public relations, and pursuing a certificate in mental health skills. Zach has been on the Dean’s list every single semester out of the seven semesters he has completed up to this point, and has been on the Provost’s list for six semesters. Last year he was named a Newman Civic Fellow, and he is the recipient of an Academic Achievement Award. Zach is a strong student who has demonstrated a diversity of skills through his communication course work including leadership, research, writing, and interpersonal skills. Dr. Jacquelyn Arcy noted that “he has been a strong leader in group projects and he has been positive, professional, and energetic in working with clients and other students.”

Read more about Zachary and the Outstanding Graduate Award winners:

Outstanding Graduates May 2020

Class of 1970

We also planned to recognize the class of 1970 this week as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from UW-Parkside. However COVID-19 caused us to delay this recognition to the December commencement. As we think about the future ahead for of UW-Parkside alumni, we can think back to the legacy of the university’s first graduating class. The June 1970 commencement ceremony had 36 graduates and drew more than 500 people. This fact is even more impressive when we remember that the commencement ceremony was held in the concourse of Greenquist Hall!

While we won’t be gathering this spring to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1970’s graduation, a number of alumni have shared their memories and where their UW-Parkside degree has taken them. See their updates and photos from the first commencement ceremony:

Class of 1970

Share Your Congratulations

We can only imagine what the Class of 2020’s 50th anniversary will be like! For now, we wish them well and look forward to celebrating their commencement in December 2020. If you haven’t already sent a congratulatory note to the May 2020 class, don’t miss your opportunity. The Alumni Relations and Communications teams have collected messages from community leaders and alumni, and we are preparing to post on a “Class of 2020” website that will be online later this week. Make sure yours is included – submit your message by the end of the day to webert@uwp.edu, or learn more via the link below.

Alumni

You’ve probably read all the way through to see if I would tell you more about “The End.” I’ll let these photos from the Archives speak for themselves:

Archives

Congratulations to our graduates – our newest Ranger alumni!

Tom

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