UW-Green Bay, Chancellor, FYI December 2004


	The Green Bay Schools are proud of their school-to-work program with NWTC. Partners in Education is an important community project bringing all educational sectors together with business leaders. Same with the Institute for Learning Partnership. The NEW ERA 17-county regional higher education collaboration is well established. And many, many other examples were cited. We’ve been trending in this direction for years in higher education. Frankly, though, when I first got here I was astounded by how our efforts to expand regionwide collaboration beyond higher education were stymied by habits and the fights of the past. You name it: Appleton vs. Green Bay, cities vs. suburbs, native English speakers vs. others. I feel very differently today. Indeed, I believe we may well look back on this year as a watershed in the history of our region: a time when there has been a fundamental shift in the thinking and the expectations of those in the public and the private sectors dedicated to moving our communities forward. Everywhere, people are now impatiently demanding area-wide approaches, and expecting fundamental changes. The attitude is to take control of events rather than have them control us... with the key insight that this is only possible if we are all working together. One event in particular, preceding our Founders Dinner by two days, drove the point home to me. This was the launch of the NEW Regional Economic Partnership, a major “summit” at the KI Center downtown. That event, too, emphasized collaboration and drew great attendance (we planned for 300 but more than 400 were packed in) from a 17-county area from Sheboygan west to Green Lake and north to the Michigan border. From local chambers, private industry and nonprofits, from so-called “old” and “new” economy sectors alike, we gathered to plot strategy. The consensus: Cooperation should be king. Regionalism is the new rallying cry. I thought Tim Hanna of Appleton offered a great summary: “As mayor, I’m responsible for a specific place, but I live my life in Northeastern Wisconsin.” He also admitted that local governments have had a difficult time leading regional development efforts. “In fact, we are the problem, the way this state is set up in such a parochial nature.” aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaTOP OF NEXT COLUMN		As Gov. Doyle pointed out to the summit, economic gains and losses know no geographic boundaries. The good news is, our region’s business and community leaders and educational institutions know the truth in that statement. They won’t turn back. If anything, the disappointment I heard expressed repeatedly at the “launch” was the fact we’re still talking about it, or only launching just now. Let’s get on with it! I think, finally, we are. Former Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin, a friend of this University who is now president of the local chamber, will be a leader in this effort. We are the second-largest economy in the state, and we need to promote unified marketing and a united front. It is gratifying for UW-Green Bay to know that we can expect Paul and others to tout education as central to our region’s 21st century economy. Every study, every consultant’s report, points to enhanced learning opportunities, cultural diversity and quality of life as vital sources of economic energy. I left the gathering optimistic and upbeat. Yes, to this point it is largely just the thinking that has shifted, and years of hard work lie ahead. But, nothing would be possible without that shift. And, at UWGB, we look forward to the hard work ahead. I’ll close with a few words from Dr. Verna Fowler. At our education town hall meeting, she captured perfectly the essence of what we do and why we do it. She was recalling the very difficult work of founding, from scratch, the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena. “I will admit to one, and only one, mistake along the way” she began, and people smiled for a moment before her long, dramatic pause and forceful finish... “I underestimated the desire of the people to receive an education.” A decade later, the rapidly growing college enrolls more than 500 people. It is a beacon of hope for low- and moderate-income students both on and near the Reservation. Words to live by. When it comes to education, don’t be surprised by success, and don’t underestimate the desire of the people. Thank you, President Fowler, and thank you all, for your interest in UW-Green Bay. Happy holidays, Bruce Shepard

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