Wednesday Weekly

Dear Rangers,

It was wonderful to see all of the various campus activities resume this week with the start of the Spring term!  Our Parkside community is an incredible place to live, learn, and work.

As we engage the semester ahead, I know we will confront both challenges and opportunities.  The next steps to secure our financial future through expense and workforce reduction will be difficult.  At the same time, we will identify critical opportunities to expand enrollment, student success, and sustainable resources.  We will work together to uphold UW-Parkside’s foundation of outstanding academics, student achievement, inclusive campus culture, and community and regional partnerships.  As we move forward, I would remind you of the University’s Strategic Budget Planning website.  The site contains essential information and updates and I encourage you to visit the site, review posted materials, and submit questions. 

A University Budget Town Hall will also be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:00 pm in Bedford Hall or via Zoom to share additional information and steps that are being taken to support our financial planning.  I understand the anticipation of reducing our workforce weighs heavily on our hearts and minds.  These are stressful times for our campus community.  As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Program, Kepro, is available to support employees, including those who may need financial advice. They can be reached at 833-539-7285 or via their website: Kepro (passcode: SOWI).

I observe every day the impact our faculty, staff, and students make in the work we do to transform students’ lives.  Be it in the classroom, in the lab, in the hall, in the community, or on the stage, court, track and field.  In acknowledgment of that impact, I am asking the campus to recognize Fridays as Parkside Proud Days.  I encourage you to show your Parkside Pride each Friday by wearing school colors and/or UW-Parkside branded clothing.  This is one small way to show support for our community.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Lynn Akey