I said the Growth Agenda is compelled by three forces: diversity, the regional agenda, and a university in demand. I conclude by turning to that last factor.

Our special approach to education, Connecting Learning to Life, is very much in demand. As a small campus in a metropolitan area, we have had to close enrollments earlier and earlier. Last year, we closed even before Madison. Tongue firmly in cheek, I regularly tell Rotary audiences and such that, last year, I called my friend Chancellor Wiley and thanked him for keeping Madison open after we closed in order to handle our overflow.

Demand on the admissions side: and on the graduation side. CEO’s regularly invite me to discuss how much they love our graduates and their special UWGB education, how they would like to be able to hire more, and they ask how might they be able to build a bigger pipeline to our graduates.

And, that is the situation today. What about tomorrow? I have, for several years, been telling every legislator, regent, system officer, statewide officeholder, and community leader I speak with that we are about creating a train wreck up here in northeastern Wisconsin. The campus that closes early and is among the smallest is building a large pipeline to our metropolitan region’s multi-colored future.