The Confluence: A project for the future of our city

Justin Vernon, center, Zach Halmstad and me during today's Confluence Project
panel discussion at Volume One.

I was privileged to be a part of today's Confluence Project panel discussion at Volume One with Blugold alums Justin Vernon and Zach Halmstad and the key individuals involved with the project. We had many thoughtful questions from members of the media in attendance and from the general public via Volume One's website.

Many thanks to Volume One for this outstanding opportunity to share with area residents the positive impact that the Confluence Project will have in our community. Many thanks as well to Justin, Zach and a third UW-Eau Claire alum, Ben Richgruber of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, for so articulately presenting how this project can help us collaboratively move the community of Eau Claire forward into the 21st century. I'm a firm believer that we are stronger together than we are individually, and today's event afforded us a great opportunity to provide members of the community with answers to their questions about this project that holds so much promise for our city and region.

·         View the recorded Web stream of today's Confluence Project panel discussion and join the continued discussion on Volume One's website.

·         Find answers to some frequently asked questions about the Confluence Project.

·         Learn even more about the project on the Community for the Confluence website.

Hitting the airwaves with the Blugold story

I thoroughly enjoyed talking today with Rich Kremer on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The West Side” (interview link will be posted later today). This was the third in a series of recent media interviews, which also included WAYY radio last week (to listen, scroll down on WAYY's page to "UW-Eau Claire Chancellor" link under "Interviews") and WEAU TV earlier this month. I had some great questions both from my hosts and from listeners in the community and am grateful for these opportunities to share the UW-Eau Claire story.

Great week to be a Blugold

Wow – it’s been another great week to be a Blugold.

For those who haven’t yet heard, UW-Eau Claire was named (for the 19th consecutive year!) among the best public regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, AND we were recognized by two national organizations for providing our students with a high quality education at an affordable cost.

Frankly, these outstanding rankings come as no surprise to me. Since arriving here as chancellor on July 1, I’ve seen time and again that our faculty and staff are living out a heartfelt commitment to providing our students with a high quality, affordable and transformative education. And in the community, every day I’m meeting more and more Blugold alumni who are using their UW-Eau Claire education, giving back through their work and service to society and making our community a vibrant place to live. I’m so very pleased to see UW-Eau Claire being recognized for its important impact.

One day this week, I had the opportunity to grab lunch in Davies Center. I struck up a conversation with a student seated near me, and I asked him a few questions about his time so far at UW-Eau Claire. The student, a junior – so he’s been here long enough to have a time-tested opinion – was quick to share that “every single day I’m reminded that I made the best decision when I chose to come to UW-Eau Claire. I absolutely love it here.”
 
What wonderful words for a chancellor to hear! And I wanted to be sure to share them here, with those responsible for this student’s great experience. Congratulations to all the Blugolds who’ve had a role in UW-Eau Claire’s most recent recognitions – both those on a national scale as well as those right here on campus!

‘One Question’ responses: Thank you!

Many thanks to the more than 40 faculty, staff, students, emeriti, alumni and friends who sent in their replies to my first "One Question" feature of the semester!

 

From early-morning great blue heron sightings along the river, to the life-changing experiences many of you had as undergraduates, to outstanding programming going on in all corners of our university, to the great sense of mutual respect among university employees — I am grateful for so many of you sharing what makes UW-Eau Claire special to you.

 

I also received important insights about things we need to work on as a campus community. Thank you for your open and honest communications about your concerns. This input is important and informs us as we plan our course for the future.

 

My second question, posted now on my home page, seeks your examples of interdependent relationships that are working well within our university and in the community. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts on this week's topic. I look forward to your responses — and more great information that will help me better share the UW-Eau Claire story.

Move-in day!

Meeting a student during day one of 2013 residence hall move-in.

I was excited to experience my first Blugold residence hall move-in day today, right along with some of our new freshmen who will live on campus this semester. Move-in is one of my favorite times of the year: It’s rejuvenating to see and feel the anticipation among new students. Today, hearing their stories about their hopes and dreams reminded me of the university community’s important role in nurturing, guiding and nudging young people as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. I love my job!

I had some wonderful conversations this morning with students and their parents about why they chose UW-Eau Claire. I even was treated to a chorus of “Happy Birthday” from some of the more than 400 returning students serving as volunteer “Hall Raisers.” Thank you for that! I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present than to meet all these outstanding members of the Blugold family. Welcome to campus, new and returning students!

A visit with an esteemed predecessor

Chancellor James Schmidt and Chancellor Emeritus Larry Schnack

It was my great honor to meet yesterday with Dr. Larry Schnack, who served as UW-Eau Claire’s chancellor from 1985-97, and who also served here on the chemistry faculty as well as in several other leadership roles before becoming chancellor. I enjoyed conversing with an individual so respected for his contributions to our university, the UW System and higher education in general. I look forward to many more conversations, Dr. Schnack!

Blugolds breaking ground

Jason Wudi, chief cultural officer for JAMF Software and a 2001 UW-Eau Claire management information systems graduate, addressed the crowd gathered Aug. 14 at the groundbreaking for JAMF Software's  new corporate offices in downtown Eau Claire.

Congratulations to JAMF Software, a company with strong UW-Eau Claire connections, on the groundbreaking for their new corporate offices in downtown Eau Claire! I had the pleasure of attending the ceremony on Wednesday.

JAMF was co-founded by Eau Claire native and 2004 UW-Eau Claire graduate Zach Halmstad, and the new corporate office is just the latest example of the company’s commitment to the city of Eau Claire.  The company has grown from four employees to more than 100 in Eau Claire alone, and their new 72,000-square-foot, $10 million building will enable them to grow their workforce here to 300 (I’m told JAMF also has about 100 employees in the Twin Cities, as well as offices in Cupertino, Calif., New York City, Hong Kong and Amsterdam). Currently, 35 percent of JAMF’s worldwide workforce are Blugolds! 

The groundbreaking was well attended, with many JAMF employees, members of the city council and business community present.  It was gratifying to hear so many of the speakers talk about the importance of JAMF’s new project to downtown Eau Claire redevelopment, and also the support expressed for the proposed Confluence Project, a $78 million public-private partnership to build a new community arts center, student housing and retail and office space at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers in downtown. JAMF has pledged $500,000 to the community arts center portion of the project and is supporting it because of the cultural amenities it will offer to employees and the Eau Claire community.

I’m proud to see Blugolds taking this important leadership role in helping to shape the future of our community!

Discussing the future of downtown Eau Claire with Blugold alumnus Jason Wudi at the groundbreaking for a new downtown corporate office for JAMF Software.