Collection of great news kicks off spring semester 2014

The third week of January has arrived — and a new semester begins! Before we become immersed in our work once more, I wanted to be sure to point out some of the important Blugold achievements celebrated in recent weeks while many of you enjoyed well-deserved downtime during the winter break:

• The UW-Eau Claire Foundation announced it has acquired an amazing collection of Robert Frost materials that now are housed in McIntyre Library’s Special Collections and Archives department. Acquired from Joan Christopherson Schmidt of Milwaukee, the collection is believed to be one of the most extensive Frost collections maintained outside of academia. What an honor for UW-Eau Claire to have this impressive collection on our campus to share the work of Frost with students, our faculty and staff, the community and visiting scholars for years to come. Learn more about the Frost collection.
• More than 150 faculty and staff `have moved into their new digs in Centennial Hall, which opens for classes today. Many thanks to all our Facilities Management and Learning and Technology Services staff who worked long hours assisting with the move-in by ensuring the building’s office and classroom spaces are ready for great teaching and learning to begin. A formal dedication of Centennial Hall — our first new academic building in 30 years! — is planned for Feb. 5; watch for details on the university website.
• Congratulations to UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff in our College of Business on the UW MBA Consortium’s ranking by U.S. News & World Report as the top program among Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa universities, both public and private. What exciting recognition for this program that provides advanced degrees to business professionals who in turn lead companies across our state and nation! Learn more about the consortium’s recent top ranking.
• A report released last week by The Education Trust included UW-Eau Claire as one of eight U.S. universities that have increased graduation rates for low-income students and students of color. Congratulations to our many faculty and staff who continue the important work of improving our student success rates and for this recognition in The Education Trust’s widely read report. Watch for the release of our own story about their work in the coming days.
• Many thanks go to Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, professor of history, for her coordination again this year of the Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance event in Eau Claire. UW-Eau Claire has been a co-sponsor of this wonderful event for 32 years. Thanks as well to the faculty and staff, students, area clergy, community members and area schoolchildren who participated in last evening's event of remembrance, music and reflection on the words and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. It was a celebration of how far we have come and a reminder that by working together we can achieve Dr. King's dream. I was honored to give closing remarks at the event. Read today's Eau Claire Leader-Telegram coverage of the ceremony.
• Our Blugold athletics teams continue to rack up successes as well. Among the highlights: The men’s hockey team’s NCAA record-tying win on Jan. 18 against St. Thomas. The Blugolds’ 2-0 shutout against the Tommies was their fifth straight, tying the NCAA men's hockey shutout record across all divisions. They’ll have a chance to break the record this Friday, Jan. 24, when they play UW-River Falls here at home. Plan now to attend and cheer them on. Go Blugolds!
• Our music students are in the middle of another outstanding run of Cabaret, a delightful annual variety show production put on entirely by our students. If you haven’t yet caught the show —an annual tradition now in its 36th year — plan to attend one of their remaining performances this Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 23-25. I’m told tickets are going fast!

These, of course, are just a few of the exciting recent Blugold stories. Keep an eye on our website as the stories of our faculty, staff, student and alumni successes continue to unfold. Here’s to another great semester at UW-Eau Claire!

2013 Holiday Lobby Concert

2013 Holiday Lobby Concert (Photo by LTS student photographer Max Lee)

I was introduced today to another UW-Eau Claire tradition: The annual Holiday Lobby Concert in the Haas Fine Arts Center. What a treat to witness this concert, organized entirely by UW-Eau Claire students.

I took my place in an audience of UW-Eau Claire students, faculty and staff as well as community members of all ages to watch and listen as our student musicians did their thing. From handbells to euphoniums to woodwinds to a cappella vocal arrangements, we heard a delightful array of holiday tunes. What an outstanding way to spend a Friday lunch hour!

Many thanks to the student chapter of the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference for sponsoring this free event. I can't wait until next year!



Talking with a Holiday Lobby Concert participant. (Photo by LTS student photographer Max Lee)

A musical weekend

UW-Eau Claire's Holiday Concert, Dec. 8, 2013

I've said it before, but I just have to say it again: From the moment I arrived on this campus six months ago as chancellor, I've felt that UW-Eau Claire is a special kind of place. That was punctuated (with an exclamation point!) for me over the past few days, courtesy of hundreds of our musically talented students and our outstanding music faculty. The grin on my face had not dimmed even late into Sunday evening following the weekend of music my family and I enjoyed.

Starting with the Jazz Ensemble I concert on Friday, followed by the Madrigal Dinner on Saturday and then the Holiday Concert on Sunday, I was blown away by the sheer number of our students who are involved in music in some way during their time with us. I'm told we have the largest undergraduate music program in the UW System; that we have more than 40 music ensembles and organizations that offer students the opportunity to use and share their musical talents; and that our ensembles put on more than 200 performances each year in local, regional and even international venues. Many who participate are music performance or music education majors, but many come from other academic areas across campus and make music simply for the enjoyment of it.

It is impossible to be surrounded by the sounds of our student ensembles and not have it touch your soul and bring joy to your heart. This feeling is evident during a performance and it lingers with us in the days and weeks that follow. I believe that the diffusive nature of music on our campus affects the entire student body and our university culture, and is one of the reasons that UW-Eau Claire is so special.

To our student musicians, thank you for sharing your gifts with so many — from the audiences at your concerts and recitals to the roommates and other friends here at UW-Eau Claire who benefit regularly on a more informal basis. And to our world-class music faculty: Thank you for dedication to providing our students with countless opportunities to develop their musical gifts — and to share them with the world.

Inaugural reflection

My heart is full, and I am humbled.

Thank you to all who made yesterday's celebration of my inauguration — and, more importantly, the celebration of the great institution of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire — such an amazing event.

My heart is full as I think back now on our gathering in the W.R. Davies Student Center, where I looked about at the faces of so many joined to celebrate the history and future of our university. I am humbled as I recall the support I felt from all those gathered for the occasion: my family, friends and lifelong mentors; the talented and dedicated faculty and staff with whom I have the privilege of working every day; our university foundation and alumni leadership; our partners from the Ho-Chunk Nation; UW System leaders and colleagues; state legislators and community leaders; proud Blugold alumni; community members who love this university; and everywhere, our outstanding students.

We talked about the history that has led us as a university to where we are today. We were moved by the eloquent words of our esteemed Professor of English and Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Max Garland, as he shared with us his beautiful poem, "For a Dedication by the River," written just for the occasion. We were lifted by the music of our unbelievably talented students. We talked about the work we will do together, building on our university's tradition of audaciously serving the public good and advocating for all who seek a college education to be able to achieve that goal. And we were reminded of the joy we will find in working together to serve our mission.

Thank you to all who planned and contributed in any way to this wonderful celebration. It is a day I will carry in my heart for years to come, and I am energized to move forward together in our important work for our students, our region, our state, our nation and our world.

UW System incentive grants go to two UW-Eau Claire-led initiatives

Congratulations to Dr. Kent Syverson, chair of the geology department, and Dr. Linda Young, dean of the College of Health and Health Sciences, for having their proposals selected for funding through the newly created UW System Incentive Grant Program!

The UW System will invest $22.5 million over the next two years in projects aimed at increasing economic growth and building a stronger Wisconsin workforce. Campuses from across the UW System submitted 56 proposals for the incentive grants, 12 of which were approved by a regent committee for funding — including two from UW-Eau Claire.

Nursing initiative
Led by UW-Eau Claire, the nursing initiative received $3.2 million to increase the number of nursing faculty at four UW System nursing programs, support nursing enrollments and mitigate projections for unprecedented shortages of registered nurses in Wisconsin. UW System schools that are part of the project include Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee and Oshkosh.

Currently, a shortage of nursing educators in Wisconsin greatly limits the number of students who can be accepted into nursing programs. In 2012-13, 50-80 percent of qualified undergraduate students who applied to nursing schools at the four UW System institutions were denied admission primarily because there was not enough qualified nursing faculty to teach them.

The newly funded project would encourage new nurses to immediately pursue their doctoral degrees and encourage established nurses to enroll in nursing doctoral programs full-time. Fellowships, loan forgiveness programs and nursing faculty summits are among the strategies that will be used to accomplish the project's goals. Nurses who receive the fellowships and participate in the loan forgiveness program will make three-year teaching commitments to UW nursing schools, which will enable those programs to enroll more nursing students.

Responsible Mining Initiative
Dr. Syverson's Responsible Mining Initiative received $451,000 in grant monies to focus on workforce development to meet the needs of the mining industry and environmental sustainability.

Modern mining is a highly complex process with a strong focus on environmental stewardship and mining practices that minimize environmental impacts. Through outreach, education and internships, the "Responsible Mining Initiative" will establish an educational program in economic mineral resources, responsible mining practices and environmental protection.

The program will prepare students for jobs in mining and environmental consulting industries as well as with governmental regulatory agencies.

It also will offer Wisconsin high school teachers summer classes that focus on the geology, resources on environmental issues in the upper Midwest and on careers in the geosciences. Seminars for high school students also will give them hands-on learning experiences that introduce them to geology, natural resources, water resources and geoscience careers in the region.

I'm proud that UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff are leading these exciting and innovative initiatives, which will contribute to our region and state's economic growth and strengthen the workforce in industries that are important to Wisconsin!

The impatient patient

As some but not all of you know, I’ve been a bit laid up for the past 2½ weeks following an unfortunate fall at home that resulted in a compression fracture in my back. I underwent successful treatment for the fracture, but my recuperation will take time – and that’s the difficult part for me. I was out of action for the first week and have been back to work in a limited capacity since, unfortunately needing to reschedule meetings and forgo attending some events to make my schedule more manageable.

I’m so thankful to many people here on campus, from my office staff for holding things together and moving forward, to those who’ve been so patient as I’ve needed to reschedule my meetings (or have arrived late because of my increased across-campus travel time!), to the many of you who’ve sent cards and words of encouragement. Your support is very much appreciated.

This time of recuperation is challenging for me. I have been an impatient patient! I’d love nothing better than to be back at 100 percent, and I know that will  happen in time. I’m very much looking forward to again being physically able to fully engage in our work together.

This campus community is an important, sustaining source of energy for me as I work to get my activity level back to normal.  Thank you for your continued understanding  as I do my best to follow doctor’s orders. And please know that we still fully intend to celebrate UW-Eau Claire in a big way when we hold inauguration festivities on Friday, Nov. 8 — please plan to attend!

Surprise visit in the chancellor's office

Kim Schmidt, wife of Chancellor James Schmidt, was photographed with members
of UW-Eau Claire a cappella group Fifth Element after they put on a surprise
performance Oct. 9 in the chancellor's office. Fifth Element members, from left, include
Adam VandenHeuvel, Tyler Graf, Adam Bergman, Seth Hale, Grant Nerison and Will Berendsen.

On a recent afternoon,  I heard wonderful singing coming from Schofield Auditorium and walked in to find one of our male a cappella groups rehearsing. I listened for a bit, thoroughly enjoying what I heard, and took the opportunity to have a conversation with these talented young men.

I learned they are members of Fifth Element, and they come from a variety of academic majors here at UW-Eau Claire. I'm growing to love that here: So many students take advantage of the countless opportunities on this campus to pursue diverse interests outside their fields of study. It's exciting to see them pursuing their academic and career goals while still keeping active with outside activities purely for the enjoyment of it. I'm happy to see them setting in place the groundwork for lives of balance.

Unfortunately, I missed a visit from these talented students today when they showed up at my office, ready to put on a surprise performance, and I was out. Fortunately, my wife, Kim, happened to be there and, along with a number of happily surprised staff members, was able to hear them sing. Judging from her happy face in the photo above, I missed a really good show.