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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/26/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
April 10, 2007 Chancellor Shepard decides to remain at UWGB Cancels interviews at Western Michigan By Kelly McBride
Shepard, 60, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the president's position at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. He was scheduled to visit Western Michigan for interviews today through Thursday, but announced Monday he won't be going.
At issue, Shepard said, are initiatives such as the campus growth agenda and UWGB's Phuture Phoenix program. The former, a plan to grow the university to 7,500 students during the next three biennia, has been included in Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal.
The latter, a college mentorship program for students from low-income schools, was co-founded and is directed by Shepard's wife, Cyndie. Both programs continue to develop.
"Western Michigan is an outstanding university, and they offered a lot of potential for us," Shepard said Monday. "Frankly, as we talked about the initiatives under way here ... there were even tears in Cyndie's eyes as she talked about leaving Phuture Phoenix at this stage."
The Shepards weren't the only ones with concerns about the campus growth agenda, Phuture Phoenix and other programs. Faculty and staff also were wondering what would happen if the Shepards left, said UWGB professor Illene Noppe.
"I think that for the entire campus, this has been an emotional roller coaster," Noppe said Monday. "I think that most faculty would (have been) very unhappy to see both Bruce and Cyndie leave. "
Since becoming chancellor at UWGB in 2001, one of Shepard's primary goals has been connecting the campus with the larger community. He's also emphasized the importance of UWGB to the region as a whole.
UWGB stood to potentially lose two of its top administrators. Sue Hammersmith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, is a candidate for three top positions — chancellor at Southern Illinois University, and president at Eastern Illinois University and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
But for now, at least, UWGB's chancellor won't be going anywhere.
"I think it all just got discussed and it was all a feeling of 'we're not quite done here,'" Cyndie Shepard said.
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