2002-2003 Annual Report: Message from the Chancellor
Dear Colleagues,
Well...I was half right. In last year's report I predicted "an even
better year in better times." As you can see in this report, we did
have a better year, BUT...the times got even worse. Public higher education
in America faces an uncertain future. It is my firm belief that the best
way to face the threats of an uncertain future is through effective planning.
I am proud of the fact that this University has been a leader in the strategic
planning process.
Beginning in fall of 2000, we involved hundreds of people-administrators,
faculty, academic staff, classified staff, students, alumni, as well as regents,
UW System staff, and governmental and community representatives-in developing
our strategic plan. The process began with a request to all these constituencies
for information, advice and counsel. The resultant input was refined through
a series of forums and retreats over an eight-month period. The final results
were published as the "University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Governing Ideas," which
was adopted by all the campus governance groups and endorsed by the Chancellor's
Advisory Council and the UW Oshkosh Foundation Board.
In addition to the creation of this planning document, which is printed on
the first two pages of this report, the University community also identified
a series of strategic action initiatives designed to implement the five strategic
directions contained in the "Governing Ideas." A report on the
status of these action initiatives can be found on pages 4-8.
During this initial phase of our planning process, we focused on what can be called "horizontal distinctiveness." This term refers to those distinctive features which pervade most aspects of an institution. Foremost among these "horizontal" qualities on our campus are: engagement, partnership, collaboration, and a commitment to the principles of the "Green" environment.
A successful strategic plan is never static. It must constantly be updated
to reflect new challenges and opportunities. During this coming year, I will
encourage the campus community to give priority to and to embrace "vertical
distinctiveness," which is marked by the identification and enhancement
of "centers of excellence."
As we do this, I will suggest that we first focus on our four outstanding colleges: Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Letters and Science, and Nursing. I believe that a college is by definition a "center of excellence." From an historical perspective, "distinctiveness" and "excellence" are prerequisites for the formation of a college, in that a group of programs and departments is constituted as a college only after they have collectively achieved a significant level of distinction.
Taken together these four "centers of excellence" permeate all
aspects of our University community. Therefore, I call upon our four colleges
to assume leadership in enhancing our "vertical distinctiveness" by
developing plans for improving existing college-based "centers of excellence" and
for targeting new ones. I have also asked Provost Keith Miller to identify
existing and potential “centers of excellence” that cut across
more than one of our outstanding colleges. Existing “centers” might
include Project Success and the general education, honors and teacher preparation
programs.
In our pursuit of "vertical distinctiveness," it will be important
that we work within the context of the Board of Regents' initiative, "Charting
a New Course for the UW System." This project, which will be discussed
on our campus when the Board meets for their October meeting, will have profound
implications for our collective future. As we continue with our own strategic
planning process, we must do so in concert with this System-wide initiative.
Next June I will invite internal and external stakeholders to participate
in a Strategic Planning Summit. The purpose of this summit will be twofold:
for the University to assess the potential impact of the findings of the
UW System planning process, and for our colleges and the Provost to share
the results of their planning for new and renewed "centers of excellence."
I invite all of you to become an active participant in this exciting process.
We need the energies, talents and wisdom of everyone to continue to make
UW Oshkosh a strong, forward-looking institution, which will grow and thrive
in the new century.
Sincerely,
Richard H. Wells, Chancellor