Regent Barry concurred with Regent Mohs' comments on preventive maintenance and with Regent Brandes' comments in support of the Green Bay Learning Experience. UW-Green Bay's proposal, he said, is not just for a liberal arts college, but for a program that will provide a market niche that will appeal to students. Noting that the campus has a large amount of capacity, he felt that, while work could be done to sharpen the program's focus, the initiative will provide a marvelous opportunity for an increased student count with that market niche.

With respect to the Capital Budget, Regent Barry noted that the university system has 1,800 classrooms, almost half of which are 20-30 years old and at least one-fifth of which are 50 years old. About 85% of those classrooms are still in the chalk and blackboard stage. Today, he said, there is an expectation on the part of students that these classrooms be upgraded with modern equipment and technology.

Recalling the concerns in Dane County about the future of the Coliseum complex when UW-Madison proposed to build the Kohl Center, he noted that, despite these concerns, the Coliseum found new flexibility and market opportunities when the Kohl Center was completed. With this experience in mind, he urged that the proposed UW-Green Bay arena be retained in the budget for planning and that the Chancellor do more in collaboration with the community so that there is better understanding of this new facility.

Concerning collaboration with the Wisconsin Technical Colleges, he expressed support for laddering opportunities with the UW, but cautioned against a blurring of the respective roles of the UW and the technical colleges. Both systems, he said, need to be in the business of providing opportunity, and the challenge for both is to provide good advising that will work to the benefit of the students.

Regent James commended UW-Platteville for its proposal to provide engineering education in the Fox River Valley.

With regard to the Green Bay Initiative, she referred to comments provided by UW-Green Bay that the university felt should be expressed, noting that UW-Green Bay had done an outstanding job of involving students, faculty, staff and community members in the planning process. Five major points that the university considers at the heart of this initiative are: 1) High-impact first contact, which gives new students a strong start that will be the key to retention; 2) personalized learning plans, which acknowledge that one size does not fit all students; 3) competency-based general education, which will provide a foundation for future learning; 4) active and integrated learning where students learn by teaching and doing; and 5) putting learning to work in professional practice.

Stating her understanding that UW-Green Bay would be one of about 80 colleges in the United States to offer this type of education, Regent James cited widespread support by the business community, faculty, students and others. She thought Chancellor Perkins should be commended for his efforts to make UW-Green Bay a magnet for talented students outside of Wisconsin, as well as within the state. She felt the university deserved the Board's backing for identifying this market and being ready to move forward.

Referring to Senior Vice President Thibodeau's statement that human capital is the state's greatest resource, Regent Gracz commented that the budget does much to address development of this resource. In that regard, he noted particularly the Milwaukee Idea and collaboration with the technical colleges. Many people in the Milwaukee area, which has the densest population in the state, start out at the technical colleges and move on. With enhanced ability to transfer credits from the technical colleges and with UW-Milwaukee's collaboration with the UW Colleges, he saw a great many positive results coming from the greater Milwaukee area, which will enhance the reputation of the entire UW System.

Regent Alexander expressed concern about the size of the budget increase as it relates to tuition increases. Considering possible compensation proposals, the potential increase could be over 9% at UW-Madison and 6-7% for the rest of the System.

On the other hand, he felt the Board should be pleased with the potential return on investment made by students and taxpayers. UW-Milwaukee will make a major leap forward in providing access to students in the metropolitan area. In the Central Wisconsin Initiative, UW-Stevens Point is taking leadership in facilitating transfer from UW Colleges and Wisconsin Technical Colleges. With respect to the Green Bay Learning Experience, he commended Chancellor Perkins for the process that was employed to bring students, faculty, staff and the community together in support of the program.

In discussing the budget, she though everyone should keep in mind the fact that the UW System is a jewel and is acknowledged as such nationally. It is a considerable accomplishment for a relatively small and not very wealthy state to have a world-class research institution. She also was impressed with the way the budget has been conceptualized in terms of being more responsive to the state's needs, of working collaboratively, and of student-centered thinking.

With respect to the Green Bay proposal, Regent Krutsch considered it very positive that the faculty, students and community have engaged in a constructive process of examining what they do and how to do it better, keeping in mind time to degree, credits to degree and other issues that affect tax dollars, affordability for families, and how far financial aid goes for students. She also considered it positive that the program is tied to specific improvements and outcomes. It is important, she emphasized, to acknowledge as a Board and a System responsibility for these important factors as well as student/faculty ratios and other concerns. She also felt that UW-Green Bay's initiative would provide more choice and options, and that this would be positive for the UW System as a whole.

Commenting first on the Green Bay Learning Experience, Regent Olivieri said he was pleased that the enrollment reduction was eliminated from the proposal. He had come to the conclusion that the initiative should be supported and saw it as an investment in what UW-Green Bay has always used as its mark of distinction — an interdisciplinary approach to education. The current faculty/student ratio and support per student, he noted, is not conducive to an interdisciplinary approach. It seemed to him that there is no need to change the mission of UW-Green Bay in order to support the initiative that is proposed.

He considered Regent Barry's comments on the proposed sports facility at UW-Green Bay very helpful in terms of understanding that this is a planning process with much yet to be done. He was concerned about opposition by the State Senator from the area, the County Executive, the Mayor, and other elected officials, and was pleased to hear that their concerns will be taken into account as the process continues.