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Update
from the Provost: Delights and disappointments in the Northern Sun Belt I began as provost in July 2002. What a first year it has been! I appreciate this opportunity to share some of my special impressions from that first year. In 2002, I interviewed for provost or vice president positions at a number of universities. Green Bay’s University of Wisconsin was the one that called me. One thing that set UWGB apart from the other institutions was its distinctive mission — interdisciplinary, problem-focused education. The rest of the country is talking about needing a new approach to the complex issues we face today, an approach that uses multiple perspectives and practical, problem-focused solutions. And here at UWGB, that is the “traditional” core mission! Another appeal was the scholarship and professionalism of faculty and staff at UW-Green Bay. Whether we’re talking about the faculty or the professional staff across campus, it was clear that I would be working with professionals committed to excellence. That promised to make my job both a challenge — how can you provide all the support demanded by those who are striving for excellence? — and a delight. And it has been. A third appeal was the beauty and resources of Green Bay. World-class performing arts. Terrific schools. Exceptional health care. Great athletics. Ethnic diversity. The natural beauty of water, shoreline, trees, and wildlife — with the amenities of a progressive urban center. What more could I ask for? Those were some of the appeals that drew me, and the past year has delivered even beyond my high expectations. Many of the faculty are doing pioneering work in their fields, and each time I learn about another instance of that, I feel as though I’ve discovered a hidden jewel. Likewise, staff members here at UW-Green Bay are among the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Other delightful surprises have included the many centers of excellence and service that are funded by grants or donations. Some of these centers include the NASA Space Grant Consortium, the NEW Partnership for Families and Children, the Fox River Valley Watershed Monitoring Project, the Cofrin Arboretum and biodiversity center, the Teaching American History project, the math-science center and outreach programs for pre-college students, Mary Ann Cofrin Hall with its world-class “green architecture” and, of course, the Weidner Center. These bring a mark of distinction that could never be achieved with state funding alone. |
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