UW-Green Bay, Chancellor, FYI October 2007

		Thirty-plus years in college settings, and never a friendlier welcome Greetings from the spectacular and energized campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay! I don’t use words like “spectacular” and “energized” lightly. This is one of the most beautiful months on our campus and in our state. Anyone who doubts that should step off the elevator on the 8th floor of the David A. Cofrin Library, as our campus tour groups often do, for one of the most stunning views in our region. And our campus has been energized with the return of students for fall classes. Our enrollment is up by nearly 200 students from a year ago. We have a record number of transfer students, one of the largest freshman classes in UW-Green Bay history, and more freshmen living on campus than ever before. We also have a growing number of military veterans attending UW-Green Bay. These are individuals who have proudly served their country and now want to help build a bright future for the New North region and the state of Wisconsin. One month into the semester, I’m sure our students are doing their best to keep up with the opportunities and challenges of college life – both in and out of the classroom. It also has been a hectic month for your chancellor. But it’s hard to describe how rewarding it has been and how much I have learned about the commitment of our campus community and our friends from throughout the region to the success of UW-Green Bay. I am fortunate to have inherited from former Chancellor Bruce Shepard leadership of a university that is so tightly connected with its community and region. Just in the month of September I had the opportunity to meet with student, faculty and staff leaders, boards of the Founders Association and Alumni Association, UW-Green Bay alumni and supporters from the Fox Cities, and our retired employees. I also had the privilege to participate in the Chancellor’s Scholarship Dinner, the Phoenix Fund kick-off, the grand opening of our new and expanded University Union, and the celebration of our largest scholarship gift ever: a $1 million gift from the estate of the late Craig Mueller, a 1971 graduate of UW-Green Bay. Each of these events and meetings has contributed greatly to my understanding of why UW-Green Bay has become one of our region’s most important institutions. Simply put, the people of the New North region have a stake in the success of the university. They recognize the importance of a successful public university to the well-being of this dynamic region.
				September was a busy month — filled with meeting and greeting, listening and learning — with a series of alumni and Founders gatherings, the dedication of the Univeristy Union and the annual scholarship dinner.
				The annual Chancellor’s Scholarship Dinner on Sept. 19 was an excellent example of a community supporting its university. More than 200 community friends joined my wife, Judy, and me and our Council of Trustees to support the Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship for top UW-Green Bay students. We had the pleasure to hear from Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, who has an extensive background in university athletics administration. He talked about his experiences in both collegiate and professional sports. Other great examples are our Founders and Alumni associations. For 36 years, members of the Founders Association have provided financial support for UW-Green Bay and have been vocal advocates for the University and its mission. The Alumni Association grows in strength each year as our alumni base – now 25,000 strong – continues to expand. I also can’t say enough about our faculty and staff. Yes, there are ongoing challenges – many of which are tied to resources. But as someone who has spent more than 30 years in higher education, I can’t say that I’ve ever been around a group of people more committed to the common good and the success of students. My first three months in the Chancellor’s Office have given me the opportunity and privilege to meet hundreds of people on and off campus. During this brief period I have not heard anyone say, “You’re on your own.” And although brief, this period has been long enough to give me the sense that no UW-Green Bay chancellor will ever hear those words. To all of you who I have met since I arrived on campus, I say “thank you” for your warm reception. If we have not yet had a chance to meet, feel free to contact me by e-mail at wardd@uwgb.edu or by phone at 465-2207. My thanks to each and every one of you for all you do for our university and its efforts to connect learning to life. UW-Green Bay and the region and state it serves have a bright future because of the shared attitude that we are all in this together. David Ward

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