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.

The "Wow!" factor: Blugold Marching Band



The Blugold Marching Band displayed its trademark explosive energy during
its halftime show Sept. 28 at Carson Park.

One of the highlights of my weekend was seeing the Blugold Marching Band perform at Saturday's home-opener football game in Carson Park.
All I can say is WOW!

The performance was breathtaking. The band is so much fun that I wanted to grab my trombone and join them!

The students in the Blugold Marching Band completely change the game day environment. Many people on campus and off have told me they enjoy watching the band perform as much as they enjoy watching the football game itself. That's an impressive accomplishment given Wisconsin's love for football.

I was glad to see the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram give this creative and talented group of students some much-deserved attention in a recent feature story about the Blugold Marching Band.

At Saturday's game, I enjoyed talking with Randal Dickerson, director of the Blugold Marching Band. I also had a chance congratulate the drum majors: Ross Christianson, Cornell; Sean Conway, Rosemount, Minn.; and Nick Hansberry, Alexandria, Minn.

With more than 300 members, the Blugold Marching Band is the largest Division III band in the country, and larger than the marching bands at UW-Madison, the University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa.

My congratulations and thanks to Director Dickerson and his talented students for representing UW-Eau Claire so well in the Chippewa Valley and during their performance tours throughout the world.

 

Showcase weekend for Blugold athletics

In recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to attend volleyball, women's soccer and football games, giving me a taste of UW-Eau Claire's rich Blugold athletics programs.

Already, it's clear to me why the Blugolds were ranked the 14th best athletics program out of more than 430 NCAA Division III schools in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup. The level of talent in multiple sports is impressive!

Even more impressive is that last year our 516 student-athletes earned a cumulative 3.124 GPA, and earned two National Jostens Community Service Awards. Also, 321 Blugold student-athletes were named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, and 33 different Blugolds earned a total of 40 All-American honors. These are just a few highlights from a long list of honors our student-athletes received in recent months.



UW-Eau Claire Nick Hirsch makes a great catch during Saturday's Blugold
football game against Pacific Lutheran University.

These student-athletes demonstrate that athletic and academic success is not mutually exclusive. We are providing our student-athletes with the best experience possible as they pursue their athletics and academic goals. The student-athletes are learning the values of teamwork, leadership, focus, time management and perseverance. And by sharing their talents, they enhance the quality of life on our campus and in the Eau Claire community.




Saturday I enjoyed the home opener for the Blugold football team. While the Blugolds came up short on the scoreboard, it was a hard-fought game against a nationally ranked team. The rain didn't dampen the spirits of the Blugold players or the fans who gathered to cheer them on.


Blugold men's hockey team
members Andrew Wilcox,
Jordan Singer and Daniel
Olszewski sport their national
 championship rings, presented
during Saturday's
Blugold football game.

Before Saturday's football game, I had the honor of presenting the players and coaches on the 2013 Blugold national championship men's hockey team with their championship rings. It was fun to celebrate their recent success as we look forward to seeing what this team — led by National Coach of the Year Matt Loen — will accomplish in the upcoming season.

Also this weekend, we welcomed seven athletes and coaches into the Blugold Hall of Fame. As I talked with them during Saturday's Blugold Hall of Fame Banquet, it was clear that UW-Eau Claire has played an important role in the lives of these athletes and coaches.

Congratulations again to the newest Hall of Famers: Marilyn Skrivseth, former director of athletics, and tennis and track coach; Don Parker, wrestling coach; Darrel Snell, football player; Rick Dahl and Tanya (Bauer) Longo, basketball players; Kari (Albers) Madden, diver; and Jason Slaikeu, national track champion.




The newest Blugold Hall of Fame inductees (left to right): Don Parker,
Kari (Albers) Madden, Marilyn Skrivseth, Tanya (Bauer) Longo,
Rick Dahl, Jason Slaikeu and Darrel Snell.

Several student-athletes also were honored during Saturday's banquet as Super Six Salute Award winners. The university's highest athletics honor went to Sarah Bingea, a women's basketball player from Delano, Minn.; Aaron Easker, a men's track and field and cross country runner from Eland; Jeremy Kieser, a men's track and field and cross country runner from Verona; Ashlyn Mauer, a women's track and field and cross country runner from Sheboygan Falls; Erin Schoenfelder, a women's' track and field runner from Antioch, Ill.; and Jordan Singer, a men's hockey player from Lino Lakes, Minn.

Also at the banquet, Erik Strand, a Blugold alumnus and current assistant men's hockey coach, received the Joe Merten Coaching Award; Becca Bestul, assistant women's basketball coach, received the Ade & Margaret Olson Coaching Award; and former UW-Eau Claire softball player Renee (Cook) Smith received the Sandy Schumacher Courage Award.

Congratulations to all!

I hope all members of our university community will take time to appreciate the efforts of our student-athletes by taking in one or more of our sporting events throughout the year -- and join me in cheering on the Blugolds!

UW-Eau Claire and area businesses: A study in interdependence

 



Top photo: Chancellor James Schmidt tours Great Northern Corp. in Chippewa Falls and discusses with Scott Gunderson, customer service manager, a packaging product the company manufactures. Lower photo: Schmidt tours a family space at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire with John Dickey, chief administrative officer, and Dr. Randall Linton, chief executive officer. Among Schmidt's other recent business and industry visits: Royal Credit Union, RBC Wealth Management and National Presto Industries Inc.

As part of my ongoing efforts to learn about Eau Claire and the greater Chippewa Valley, I have been meeting with business and industry leaders, touring their facilities and engaging in conversations about how UW-Eau Claire can provide the human capital and knowledge-based expertise they need for their enterprises to succeed. 

 

What I’ve discovered from the visits thus far is that this region has a highly diversified and specialized array of businesses – from health care to sawmill equipment to corrugated cardboard display manufacturing. Regardless of what they make or services they deliver, virtually all have told me they seek employees with the liberal arts-based skills our university excels at teaching: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, and the ability to work in teams. 

 

At each and every visit, I have either met with Blugolds or heard how our graduates are making meaningful and lasting contributions to their workplaces and their communities. I have also had the opportunity to discuss my vision for how business and industry in the region can support our students through meaningful internship and workplace experiences, and have been encouraged by the initial receptivity to some of my ideas.  These visits have again reminded me of the interdependent relationship between UW-Eau Claire and the region we serve, and I look forward to the upcoming visits to more of our private sector partners.