Letter from the Interim Chancellor

A story I will never tire of telling

The growth and maturation of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay into a top-flight institution of higher learning is a remarkable story.

It is one I never tire of telling.

The year 1967 might suggest distant history to some, but to me it still recalls events fresh and new and invigorating. I was acting dean of the two-year UW Center in Green Bay. We were gearing up to realize a community dream and transform the Center into a full-fledged, four-year university.

Fast forward thirty-four years. The transformation is complete beyond even our most ambitious early dreams. Perhaps most gratifying is the realization that our new freshmen of 2001 see only an established university with top facilities and challenging academics, and assume it must have been this way forever.

Of course, it hasn't been here forever and didn't just happen by chance. UW-Green Bay thrives today because a community rallied for its creation and never stopped investing generously in its growth and development.

This annual report documents that generosity. It shares news about what that philanthropy has meant to our University. It puts a face on it.

I am proud to serve this institution as interim chancellor. I will always be proud to be part of the worldwide network of alumni, students, friends, faculty and staff who call this wonderful University "home."

New graduate followed patient path to degree

It took Sue Crabb more than 20 years to get there, but her full-faced smile and the inflection in her voice are sure signs that pride and passion were as much a part of her journey as patience.

Completing a quest she began in 1980, Crabb crossed the stage and received her bachelor's degree in business and management from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday, May 19, 2001.

And what a day it was. Picture perfect.

"The image is so vivid in my mind," Crabb says. "As we proceeded out of the Weidner Center to the outdoor commencement area we walked past the faculty and everyone else was clapping. That was such an awesome feeling. It was finally a reality. Finally, I had done it."

Even when the sun beat down on her black cap and gown and the commencement speeches ran a little long, Crabb didn't mind a bit. It gave her time to reflect on what University staff members believe is one of the institution's most notable examples of personal persistence and dedication to education: one course per semester, two semesters per year, for two decades.

She took her first college course in fall of 1980 hoping to go into the field of social work, but she later changed to business.

She "stopped out" only briefly to be with her kids because her husband traveled and she worked full time. But with her husband's support, she again started to work toward her degree taking one night class every semester.

One of her most memorable classes was while pregnant with her daughter Michelle. "I remember it being December and I was nine months pregnant, and we were all a little nervous," she says. "No one wanted me to have that baby in the classroom."

Only until her final two semesters did she load up, taking three classes while working full time and maintaining high involvement in the lives of her two teenage daughters. She acknowledges tremendous support from her husband, Greg, to get the job done. And the effort, she says, was well worth it.

"I learn things every day that I can apply to my job and the neatest thing is when I think about the example I've set for my kids," she says. "It's good for them to see what they're in for." Both daughters, Michelle and Melissa, will be college-bound after high school.

Although University records don't indicate which student or graduate has been enrolled at the University the longest, Crabb is a pretty good bet for the record.

"There were a number of us students who were taking a long time in getting our degree, but I can say I don't know of any others that took as long as I have," Crabb says.

It took flexibility. She had to make special arrangements with employers to take some day classes, and she had to do some independent studies to complete her requirements.

Looking back on her patient path to commencement, Crabb treasures her University experience.

"I just thought it was awesome," she says. "There is so much pride in what you've done and accomplished. I graduated from an outstanding university, and I think about the people (faculty and staff) who really worked to help me get through."

She mentions Prof. William Conley and instructor Lucy Arendt by name, and way back, there was a high school teacher from Pulaski who worked an extra hour each class night to help her with Intermediate Algebra.

"That is what is so great about this University," she says. "It's a place where professors really care about their students. They made the experience applicable to my life."

Crabb enjoys her work as a staff assistant for the Northeast Region of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. Her degree is a credential for the future, carrying no instant salary increase or promotion, but she emphasizes the benefits are real and plentiful. "My degree and the friends I've made, and the experiences I've enjoyed during the process are irreplaceable," she says.

"I'm the only one of six siblings to have earned a college degree," she adds. "And my dad. He was so proud. He had tears in his eyes."

Experience, energy, fun define his U-R-L

W. Bruce Shepard is the first University of Wisconsin-Green Bay chancellor appointed in the 21st century.

It was fitting, then, that most on campus first made his acquaintance via the Web. They followed the URL trail (or Uniform Resource Locators, those http://www addresses) to meet Bruce Shepard.

• A "Provost Cam" website at Eastern Oregon University, his current employer, webcasts an image of his office 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• His personal homepage welcomes visitors with images of a clip-art sailboat riding the waves to the tranquil melody of "Africa" by '80s pop band Toto.

• His professional resume is now archived on UW-Green Bay's campus website.

Shepard, 54, will assume his duties as UW-Green Bay chancellor on Nov. 1. He is clearly more than the sum of his webpages, but the forthrightness suggested by his online involvement is indeed an important part of his leadership style.

"With the 'ProvCam,' I was trying to introduce an administrative style that was more open and at the same time introduce the idea of having fun in the office," Shepard told the Green Bay News-Chronicle, which interviewed him in August upon his appointment as chancellor. "The idea was to send a subliminal message that there were no secrets at this university."

People at UW-Green Bay appreciate the symbolism. Said Kristy Watzlawick, a student from Merrill, "The Webcam in his office seems to convey his openness and that he's not hiding behind a door."

If his web presences shows his fun side and love of sailing, his engaging personality and impressive credentials in public higher education showed UW System officials all they needed to see.

"We really feel like he is a perfect fit for UW-Green Bay," said Board of Regents member Patrick Boyle. "He is an academic leader who cares about students and the role of the university in the community."

"It's important that the university in Wisconsin's third-largest city have a chancellor who can keep building connections between the campus and the community," added Board of Regents President Jay Smith. "I am confident that Bruce Shepard can do this and will also make further progress in advancing the UW-Green Bay Learning Experience."

The Learning Experience is a strategic plan designed to improve retention and graduation rates and provide well-educated graduates for Wisconsin. Search committee members noted parallels between the Green Bay initiative and the approach at Eastern Oregon, which describes itself as that state's "premier public liberal arts university."

Said Shepard, "I see so much that is positive in Green Bay. I am convinced there are great things ahead for Green Bay and this University."

Chancellor-designate Bruce Shepard's bio and vitae are online at www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/shepard/ shepard.html. His personal homepage at Eastern Oregon is www2.eou.edu/provost/wbs/wbs.htm. The Provost Cam is at www2.eou.edu/provost office.htm.

Comments from campus, community:

Rick Beverstein, Vice President, AON Consulting;
President, Founders Association
"His communication and people skills were the first thing I noticed. He is clearly very well-prepared. Even before his appointment was announced, I had heard from a number of individuals that he is a very personable, upbeat and likable individual, and I am just thrilled about the selection. As far as fulfilling his leadership role for the community, he is high on the charts..."

Prof. Robert Howe, Natural and Applied Science, Search and Screen Committee
"One of the things that impressed me, and I believe impressed our entire committee, is that Bruce has a record of caring about people. That goes from administrative staff, to ad hoc instructors to senior faculty, to students. He's a man who seems to have fun, who enjoys his work."

Priscilla Moore, Milwaukee, Vice President, Student Government Association
"As a student leader I'm very excited about working with him during the upcoming year. He seemed very friendly and willing to talk about anything. I had an overall good impression of him. I look forward to him sitting down with student government and getting a feel for the campus."

Prof. Joan Thron, Education, Search and Screen Committee
"In addition to the committee's very enthusiastic feeling about Chancellor Shepard, we were most impressed with Cyndie Shepard's professional accomplishments in the field of special education. We look forward to the contributions she will be able to make to our community and state." (Cyndie Shepard is director of the developmental services program for the Umatilla-Morrow Education Service District.)

Lou LeCalsey, President and CEO, Tufco Technologies Inc.;
Chair, Council of Trustees
"You could just sense the energy in the room during the open forum. He's an energy creator... He was wise to really listen to faculty, staff and students. My view is that he's going to build on the framework and take the Learning Experience Initiative through implementation... He sure has the skills and the background and he demonstrated them in the open forum. He got an A+ from me."

Katharine Lyall, UW System President
"For this campus at this stage in its history, Bruce Shepard is an exceptional leader who is ready for a challenge of this kind. The Board and I will support Dr. Shepard in every way we can, and I look forward to him serving UW-Green Bay for many years to come."

The Shepard File:

Age:

54

Family:

Spouse Cyndie, a special education administrator

Son Paul

Education:

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of California, Riverside

Current Position:

Provost and vice president for academic affairs, Eastern Oregon University

Career Highlights:

Served as provost since 1995 at Eastern Oregon, where he is also a professor of political science. Spent 23 years at Oregon State University, first as a faculty member and later as state government liaison specialist, special assistant to the provost, assistant vice president for undergraduate studies and director of undergraduate academic programs. Also served as a visiting scientist at the Population Study Center in Seattle; policy analyst for the USDA Forest Service; and visiting fellow at the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Australia.

Selected Achievements:

As provost, helped lead Eastern Oregon through a strategic planning process that resulted in EOU being known as "Oregon's Selective Undergraduate University." He has also led the effort to revise EOU's general education program; created an honors program and other new academic programs; and he was instrumental in securing $33 million for a new Science Center.

Academic Interests:

American government, public policy and policy analysis, research methods, and environmental and natural resource politics and policy

Hobbies:

Sailing, fishing, cooking and entertaining, woodworking and tennis

Gifts enhance Mary Ann Cofrin Hall

Private giving provides margin of excellence

The state of Wisconsin is the principal investor in UW-Green Bay's new, state-of-the-art academic building, Mary Ann Cofrin Hall.

Like most good things on campus, however, private dollars provided the margin of excellence and made a fine facility an exceptional one. The $20 million building features nearly $4 million in special enhancements made possible by the generosity of friends of the University.

"Mary Ann Cofrin Hall is really a showcase for UW-Green Bay," says Chuck Wilson, assistant chancellor for university advancement. "Many of the most special features exist only because private donors took an interest in the project."

The facility will be a destination point for students and the general public alike. The Richter Natural History Collection, the University Herbarium, and headquarter offices for the Cofrin Arboretum Center for Biodiversity will open to the public and the local scientific community later this fall. Donor contributions helped fund facilities and programming related to the science collections.

Another major partner has been Wisconsin Public Service Corp. The utility has invested several hundred thousand dollars in making Mary Ann Cofrin Hall a regional and national demonstration project for sustainable design and new, energy-generating technology. The building is the first in Wisconsin to deploy two new technologies together — metal roof panels and "vision glass" windows — to generate electricity.

Private donors also supported the project with contributions ranging easily into the six figures for such enhancements as the new gateway courtyard and a specialized, high-tech classroom.

"This facility is a wonderful example of people coming together to support higher education in Northeast Wisconsin," Wilson says. "They've made a difference for the University, the students, and our community."

Lenfestey design links to institution's values

A handsome, landscaped courtyard with native plants and trees — visible from most rooms and gathering areas — will be a distinctive feature of the new Mary Ann Cofrin Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The courtyard project is a gift from Mrs. Josephine B. Lenfestey of Green Bay and the Lenfestey Family Foundation.

The Lenfestey Family Courtyard will be dedicated next spring after plantings are completed.

"Everyone who uses or visits Mary Ann Cofrin Hall will enjoy this feature," says Interim Chancellor William Kuepper. "We are delighted with and grateful for the gift that made it possible."

A glassed-in Winter Garden that looks out toward the courtyard will be a gathering space for students. Most offices and other spaces on the building's interior will have windows to the open-air courtyard, in effect bringing the outdoors inside.

Trees, shrubs, ground covers and perennials will be species native to the region. Various beds will serve as demonstration plots of different vegetation communities, including water plants, ferns and mosses, a butterfly garden, a prairie plot, an heirloom vegetable area, and others.

A walkway along one side of the courtyard starts a new gateway to the Cofrin Arboretum encircling the campus. Located inside the building are the Cofrin Arboretum Center for Biodiversity, the Richter Natural History collections, the University Herbarium, and other natural science-related offices.

"The courtyard creates a connection between the academic pursuits within the building and our natural environment, which continues to be an important element of UW-Green Bay's institutional mission," says Prof. Robert W. Howe, director of the biodiversity center.

Examples are plentiful.

The prairie plot in the courtyard will echo the diversity of the arboretum's Keith White Prairie, located a short distance away along South Circle Drive. The prairie is one of the arboretum's most recognizable plant communities, with acres of big bluestem and switch grass interspersed with colorful flowering plants including black-eyed susan, prairie dock and yellow cone flower. The restored prairie dates to 1973.

A more recent UW-Green Bay initiative involves encouraging interest in heirloom vegetables; hence, a small planting in the Lenfestey Family Courtyard. Led by biology Prof. Jeff Nekola, the University has promoted through an annual seedling sale the notion that important biodiversity issues can also be backyard fun for thousands of area gardeners. The late-May sale features dozens of species from rare brandywine tomatoes and Caribbean peppers to vegetable varieties preserved and handed down by local Belgian settlers.

Even the courtyard pond will model values that have been a part of UW-Green Bay since its beginning in 1968 as an institution with a special commitment to the environment. A cistern holding rainwater trapped from the roof will enhance the setting and provide a practical use. The water will recirculate to the pond to provide the sound of running water and will be used to water courtyard plantings.

Building is named for prominent philanthropist

UW-Green Bay opened fall semester 2001 a few weeks ago with its first new classroom building in a quarter century and an open invitation to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

The invitation was to a public dedication ceremony scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28, to mark the opening of Mary Ann Cofrin Hall.

University officials say the naming honors Mrs. Cofrin's longstanding support of UW-Green Bay. Former chancellor Mark Perkins praised her "full partnership in one of the most remarkable stories of philanthropy in the 150-year history of the University of Wisconsin and the UW System."

He also observed that Mary Ann Cofrin Hall would be one of the few major academic buildings in the state named for a woman.

Mary Ann Cofrin and her husband, retired physician Dr. David Cofrin, have supported UW-Green Bay initiatives ranging from development of the campus arboretum to construction of the nationally acclaimed Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. They now reside in Gainesville, Fla.

PSC tours focus on facilities pinch

Friends of the University and fans of Phoenix Athletics can expect to hear more this year about a facilities pinch that has students on campus eager for expansion.

Earlier this year, UW-Green Bay athletics boosters, guests and the media took part in an information session and tour of the Phoenix Sports Center (PSC). More tours are planned for this fall.

The University's growth in enrollment and programs has strained existing capacity. With 15 NCAA Division I athletic teams and a growing student body — the on-campus population has tripled since the PSC was new in the mid-1970s — space is tight. Visitors see cramped locker rooms, a racquetball court serving as a temporary fitness center, and equipment stored in hallways. UW-Green Bay's facility is smallest in its nine-team athletic conference.

Plans to address long-term space deficiencies are part of a larger effort to position UW-Green Bay for the future. The University is currently pursuing far-reaching academic and facilities improvements known collectively as The Learning Experience Initiative. UW-Green Bay seeks to meet growing demand and thrive as a distinctive "university of preference," an attractive option for students from Wisconsin, the Midwest and beyond.

On the facilities side, immediate priorities involve not only the PSC but the University Union. Students have already pledged up to $400 annually in higher fees to expand the Union and enhance its use as an informal gathering place. The higher fees would also provide partial funding for the PSC and creation of an all-events center.

UW-Green Bay planners say that, to be a university of preference, the institution must be able to provide social and recreational opportunities comparable to most other campuses. There is growing student interest in programming of on-campus events, in addition to physical fitness, health and wellness issues. Three new residence halls planned for completion by 2006 will only escalate demand for student life and recreation facilities.

For University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students, giving back to the community can be as much a part of their studies as all-night cramming sessions at the Cofrin Library or their 8 a.m. coffee stop before Economics 202.

In fact, many at UW-Green Bay regard involvement as central to the school's Green Bay Idea of an Educated Person, and the new Learning Experience Initiative.

Examples can be found across campus.

Jeff Smith, an urban and regional studies major from Green Bay, interned at Howe School, hard by the Mason Street bridge downtown. He worked after school with kindergarten through grade 5 students, many from at-risk families or families who only recently immigrated to this country.

His job was to be responsive to and responsible for the safety of 83 children, including arranging for activities and transportation.

Smith says that he grew up "across the tracks," so to speak, in the relatively affluent Astor Park neighborhood and had little realization of the challenges faced by children growing up today not far from his childhood home.

"My internship has been truly transformative," he says.

Jeremy Cleven, a human biology major from Seymour, did his volunteer work on campus, for Phoenix Athletics.

He amassed more than 2,500 documented hours of volunteer work for the University's athletic department in an athletic training capacity.

In fall of 2000 he assumed head athletic trainer responsibilities while the head trainer took a two-month leave. That involved educational instruction of student athletic trainers, overseeing all operations and handling all administrative duties.

Cleven also served in a volunteer capacity for the Badger State Games, the Bellin Elite High School Football Combine, and he interned with the Green Bay Gamblers hockey team.

Like Cleven, many students juggle multiple volunteer activities. Another example is Kari Polczynski of New Berlin, who studied communication processes and journalism.

Polczynski assisted the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association in a publicity campaign that had the net impact of raising an additional $17,000.