Beeby, leadership highlight key initiatives in spring welcome address

Beeby, leadership highlight key initiatives in spring welcome address

Student success, campus culture and standout achievements emerged as key themes during Chancellor James Beeby's opening address for the spring semester.

Speaking to staff and faculty Tuesday, Jan. 20, in The Bluffs Ballroom in the Student Union, Beeby shared his enthusiasm for the spring semester at UWL, with classes set to begin Monday.

This semester, UWL is welcoming 111 new transfer students - 21 over the university's goal - an influx, Beeby said, "that shows that students really want to come to our campus."

While it's still early, he added, early indicators point to another strong first-year class in the fall.

UWL's sustained success comes at a time when many universities across the country are struggling to stay afloat amid declining enrollment and funding challenges.

Beeby shared that UWL is working hard to ensure that UWL remains in good standing - work that includes meeting with legislators to determine priorities, pursuing efficiencies in budgeting and operations, and creating a campus environment that is successful, accessible and welcoming.

The university's new strategic plan, "UWL Forward," is being implemented after campus and community feedback, and will drive key decision-making in these areas over the next five years.

The plan, Beeby said, is designed to center what makes UWL special - the people - while providing a roadmap to elevate the university to a higher level of excellence.

"We need to make sure that we continue to be a university where people are the priority," he explained. We are so successful because we focus on students and we have people who care about the work they do and the people they work with. We can never, ever take that for granted. That is why we need to make sure we focus our resources on students and the folks who show up every day and do their work with honor and integrity. We want to make sure we elevate everything we do to be even better than we are now."

Additional updates from UWL's five divisions:

Academic Affairs

• Indicators of student success are soaring. Last year, 78% of UWL students graduated in four years, compared to just 56% in 2014-15. UWL's retention rate of 86.2% also significantly outpaces the Universities of Wisconsin average
• In April, a team from the Higher Learning Commission will visit campus to review the UWL's HLC accreditation - a confirmation that the university meets the latest criteria for quality education, and a prerequisite for the university and its students to receive federal funding
• A national search is underway for the position of provost, as Betsy Morgan is set to retire in June; meanwhile, the university will soon begin candidate interviews for the position of dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, as Karl Kunkel is set to step down.

Administration & Finance

• UWL remains on strong financial footing after the Universities of Wisconsin received its largest state funding increase in over two decades. The university is using its share of the increase to fund a new employee compensation plan, student telehealth services and financial incentives for faculty in high-demand fields, among other initiatives
• The university is collecting bids for the Prairie Springs Science Center completion project. A groundbreaking is being planned for later this spring, with the building expected to be fully occupied and operational by spring 2029
• Other ongoing and upcoming projects include the completion of the south parking ramp (scheduled to open in April), roof replacements for Mitchell Hall and Graff Main Hall, replacement of the sound system and video boards at Roger Harring Stadium, and interior renovations to Hutchinson Hall.

Access, Belonging & Compliance

• The Dialogue Matters program, now in its second year, provided new students the opportunity to learn about free speech, academic freedom and the importance of establishing a sense of belonging. Nearly 2,000 students participated in the training
• Division staff have reviewed responses to a campus climate survey and begun presenting key takeaways to UWL's shared governance groups. This data will be used to identify priorities, coordinate needs and track progress within the university's strategic plan
• A full slate of events will allow campus to explore a wide range of events this spring - among them, a presentation by writer and disability rights activist Emily Ladau, scheduled for March 10 in the Student Union.

Student Affairs

• UWL's Campus Child Center will celebrate 40 years of supporting children and families during a campus and community celebration Saturday, May 2
• Use of the Recreational Eagle Center increased by over 15% in the past year, translating to about 25,000 additional visits. The REC's newly renovated climbing gym is also proving popular, with traffic increasing by 85% since 2023
• Two new programs are expanding opportunities for students. The Take a Student to Coffee program allows students to connect with faculty and staff outside the classroom, while the Eagles at Tables program places students on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, empowering them to build connections and leadership skills.

Foundation/Advancement

• In October, UWL celebrated its most successful giving day to date, with $623,000 raised on One Day for UWL. Staff and faculty combined to make over 500 gifts, while a record number of students (184) made their first gift to the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation
• The Foundation scholarship portal is accepting student applications through Feb. 1 at midnight. Foundation scholarships are awarded in late spring, with funds applied the following academic year
• On Feb. 4, the 33 rd -annual UWL in Madison Day will connect current students to UWL alumni working in public service and state government. And on April 11, the Foundation will honor five alumni who will receive 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards.