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The first comes Wednesday the 5th with our annual cookout for faculty and staff,
just one small way we say “thanks.” Traditionally, this event involves
laughter and fellowship, a charcoal-grilled lunch (with Cyndie, our two dedicated
vice chancellors and me flipping burgers), an abridged recitation of the year’s
highlights, and congratulations and thanks all around for recently retired or
soon-to-be-retired colleagues. This year’s gathering will include a special, added touch. We’ll pause to welcome aboard our University’s newest employee (identity TBA) and recognize also our very first employee (identity known to just about everyone). Dr. Edward W. Weidner, of course, is that pioneer, having been confirmed as UW-Green Bay’s founding chancellor in October 1966. We’re delighted he was able to accept Human Resources’ invitation to assist with the “You deserve a round of applause” portion of the program. Recruiting and retaining the best? It’s a 38-year tradition he began. Consider the contributions of this year’s retirees. Staff members Sharon Gutowski (assistant to the chancellor and my “boss,” whom I’ll miss dearly), John Baumgart, Shirley Bubolz, Mark Carlson, John Killinger, Sally Mancoske, Dottie Stepien, Sally VanOudenhoven and Chuck Wilson. Faculty members John Harris, Theodor Korithoski, Margaret Laughlin, David Littig, Richard Logan and Marsha Van Egeren. Many longtime, outstanding contributors... many who began their careers here under Chancellor Weidner’s direction. I expect we’ll have a good turnout not only at the cookout, but at the Founders Association spring reception later that same day, at the Weidner Center. Again, the spotlight will be on our people, with a reception theme of “faculty authors.” For a campus our size, our faculty members are responsible for a very impressive number of publications as authors and editors of textbooks, reviews, biographies, fiction, poetry and ground-breaking scholarship. The gathering that night will be something akin to one very large book-signing party. Even a tentative roster of recent authors is dozens of names long, at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/authors.htm (The Founders Association, of course, has long recognized that great people do great work. Their annual Founders Association Awards for Excellence — this past year honoring Greg Aldrete, Cliff Abbott, David Coury, Jerry Rodesch, Christine Terrien and Sherri Urcavich — are true focal points for University pride and campus spirit.) Such focal points are all around. If you attended the Academic Excellence Symposium in April, our impact on students’ lives and community quality-of-life was evident in abundance. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaTOP OF NEXT COLUMN |
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Attend any of the commencement-related events and you’ll see the same. With
Chancellor Weidner delivering the commencement address on May 15th, and Betty
Rose Meyer and three generations of the Chernick Family being recognized with
the Chancellor’s Award for their commitment to us and the community we are
here to serve, it is certain that UW-Green Bay’s longstanding and ongoing
connections to this community and state will be emphasized. Recognition of what
we are able to do because of what the community does for us will imbue the day…
most notably, of course, in that centerpiece of the ceremony when we will be conferring
a record number of diplomas.. Still, the fact remains it has been a difficult year for rah-rah. Like most state employees, UW-Green Bay faculty and staff had a pay freeze this year and will have, at best, one percent increases next fiscal year, all the while being hit with escalating health insurance premiums. We saw the lives of friends and colleagues affected as jobs were reduced and eliminated on the way to cutting $2.3 million from our budget. I know many in the private sector are faring as badly, or worse. No argument there. The distinction I emphasize is that in higher education we are not idled by dwindling demand. Far from it. We are absorbing cuts at the very time demand for our services has never been higher, as we are (rightfully) looked to as an engine of growth and economic recovery. Our faculty and staff have weathered a difficult year with amazing dedication and resiliency. As this academic year draws to a close, they deserve our thank-you’s, and a promise from us that we will continue to aggressively make the case that Wisconsin must value the work we do together. State support must not lose contact with the level of passion and commitment for higher education our faculty and staff exhibit every day. It’s a message I intend to repeat any number of times, this month and beyond. Thank you for your support of UW-Green Bay. Thank you for helping us “connect learning to life.” Thank you for helping us serve a community that, as our new colleagues in Pakistan so helpfully remind us, truly extends around the world. Sincerely,  Bruce Shepard |
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